Hook County Primary School, Pembrokeshire, Wales – winner of Young People's Involvement category
Hook County Primary School's Alcohol Project arose out of concern expressed by year 6 pupils about the amount of discarded alcohol bottles that littered their playground and village community. They realised that even though they were not old enough to buy alcohol it could still affect their lives and they decided to do some local research into the problem and raise awareness at a local level.
The aim of the Alcohol Project was to raise awareness that broken glass can harm wildlife, make the community look untidy and be unsafe for children seeking to play outside. The objectives were as follows:
to research and provide evidence of the problem of broken bottles in the village
to raise awareness of the negative impacts of alcohol use on young people
to write to the community councillor to raise the pupils' concerns at a council meeting
to get the local shop and sports club to display posters designed by the young people identifying the negative impacts of alcohol misuse
to get the entire school to sign a petition
to work with SUDDS (the Specialist Under 18 Drinking and Drugs Service) to obtain advice on best practice, in order to make the project sustainable in future school years
to develop a whole school approach with staff undergoing substance misuse training so that they felt confident in answering questions from pupils
to make school governors aware of the project
to present the project's findings at a parents' evening where the work was put on display.
The young people at this small rural primary school in Wales have developed a project which has involved a whole community. Pupils, staff, governors and parents have had their awareness raised regarding alcohol misuse.
Hook County Primary School's Alcohol Project arose out of concern expressed by year 6 pupils about the amount of discarded alcohol bottles that littered their playground and village community. They realised that even though they were not old enough to buy alcohol it could still affect their lives and they decided to do some local research into the problem and raise awareness at a local level.
