Up2U continues to recruit peer educators from Peebles High School, with potential recruits completing an application form. Those in S4 go into S3 classes/groups to explain the project and highlight specific aspects such as:
- responsibility
- planning
- teamwork.
In the year 2006/07, there were over 100 applications, with 26 young people being selected. Once the potential peer educators have been selected they attend a residential training weekend where they receive training including:
- how to use the materials
- how to facilitate groups
- confidentiality
- disclosure.
After attending the residential training courses, the peer educators work with the nine feeder primary schools in the Tweeddale area. They use a dedicated training package relating to drug awareness, developed by the group, and aimed at the P6/P7 age groups. This allows volunteers the opportunity to pass on their experiences of drugs and alcohol to primary school pupils about to enter secondary education.
The key elements of the input for the primary pupils are:
- researching a drug
- preparing a presentation
- presenting to the whole class.
This way of working contributes to the development of communication and core skills of the primary pupils.
In addition, Up2U now offers peer counselling, information and support within Peebles High School. Up2U peer counsellors are trained through a programme devised by representatives from outside agencies, including qualified Up2U adult volunteers.
Through Peebles High School’s Buddy System for S1 pupils, extra support is offered by Up2U peer counsellors, who are assigned to specially identified pupils who require additional support. This service is offered anonymously, thus avoiding the pupil feeling singled out or different in any way.
Up2U has also organised discos, band nights and other events throughout the area to provide much needed alternatives for young people.
The young volunteers in Up2U are participating in the Youth Achievement Awards Scheme as a way of demonstrating their level of effort and commitment.
Up2U has a number of young volunteers and adult volunteers and also employs a part-time project co-ordinator and sessional workers.
Advocacy project
The Young People’s Advocacy Project had a recruitment process and a group of 13 S6 volunteers made a commitment to receive training to be advocates for their peers.
The volunteers have received advocacy training provided at a residential weekend where input was given by a number of professionals and carers, and case studies of advocacy seekers were shared.
They have also been involved in a number of additional meetings with the project worker where they have jointly tackled issues around supporting their peers in an advocacy role.
The volunteers have visited all the S1 and S2 pupils, informing them of the project and also highlighting the European Convention on Human Rights as it impacts on their lives.
The advocacy project is very firmly focused on well-being. Through peer support it aims to give those seeking advocacy the confidence to open up to the advocates as they will feel that they understand them as they are close to them in age, particularly where issues concern their experiences as pupils and adolescents.
The advocates offer a positive role model for younger pupils and through their activities give positive messages about worth and self-esteem to those who are experiencing low self-esteem and confidence.
To date eight young people have requested that they receive advocacy support from the young people advocates. The project worker matches the advocacy seeker with an advocate and introduces them to each other.
