SKYE AND LOCHALSH DRUG AND ALCOHOL FORUM
REVIEW AND PLANNING DAY
ACTION POINTS FROM THE MEETING
3rd February 2009
PRESENT: Donald Beaton, Duncan MacLean, Don Esson, Chrisanne MacDonald, Marjory Jagger, Dick Johnston, Chris Crichton, Alex Jones, Dianne Henderson, Annie Davidson, Jess Austin, Neil Turner, Lesley Jagger, Rod Richard, Alick John MacLean, Lesley Hellon, Tina Barrows, Rebecca Fleming, Katharyn Nicolson, Elanor Bacley, Jessica Latton, Amy MacKinnon, Eilidh Hastings, Brittany Peters, Kayrn MacRae and Zoe Harris.
APOLOGIES: Jeanette Laird-Measures, Mary MacKinnon, Kate Earnshaw, Alaisdair MacKenzie, Kath McAvoy, Dr Stephen McCabe, Liz Featherstone, Catherine MacKinnon, John Norman MacDonald, Vicki Samuels and John Gordon.
Donald welcomed everyone especially the group of nine girls from Portree High School representing the Girls’ Group and the Peer Education Group and introductions were made round the table.
The 2008-09 Action Plan was reviewed and progress noted on our Intended outcomes/Actions for the year.
The Girls’ Group gave a short presentation on their discussions. One of the things that they have discussed is family relationships. They have also looked at what they get from these relationships such as care, love, laughs, gifts and also at times fights. They have also discussed how to deal with situations in school when youngsters are in trouble with teachers. They have also discussed how to tone down uniform to make you less noticed by teachers. They also discussed people they could trust and rely on, such as close friends and support teachers.
The Peer Education Group members also gave a presentation and explained the aims of the group. They enjoyed learning new skills such as public speaking, listening skills, organization and research. They meet people that they would not normally mix with in school, possibly form new friends and get new views of people you do not know well.
As far as alcohol is concerned the group said that their discussions made them think what it does to your body, made them think what it does to family and friends and about units consumed at weekends. The advantage of peer education is that younger people are more likely to listen to other youngsters rather than adults. Other benefits of the group are that they are learning new skills and get qualifications such as youth achievement awards.
Jessica Austin, a New Deal placement with Annie Davidson has been assisted by the girls to come up with a new board game which could be used in schools and youth clubs to help youngsters learn from other experiences, be supported to make positive decisions, get information about help available and talk more openly about alcohol issues.
The project has been short listed for the £60,000 prize fund in the Big Challenge, a youth leadership scheme supported by a number of charity foundations that seeks to encourage social entrepreneurship and community involvementamong the young. Members were encouraged to vote online for the project until Monday next week, 9th February.
Following on from these presentations decisions were made regarding items for inclusion in the 2009-10 Action Plan.
The Peer Education project will be included in the Prevention and Education section instead of the Communities section.
Duncan MacLean and Don Esson reported on Drugs presentations at PortreeHigh School and the use of the drugs dog. The girls’ group members were impressed at how the dog was able to detect the package that officers used to demonstrate.
Duncan MacLean will confirm the co-ordinator for this year’s Safe Highlanders which will take place on 2nd June. Some concern was noted at the short time allowed for presentations and a decision will be made as to Forum input at the end of March.
Duncan will arrange for a presentation on the Forum at one of the Ward Forum meetings.
Marjory Jagger will review the caffeine leaflet and distribute widely. The Forum will contribute to any costs. The Young Carers were expecting visits from the Fire Service in the next few weeks to look at safety in the home.
Lesley Jagger is the new Women’s Aid worker in the area and hopes to attend Forum meetings.
The YMCA group are hoping to move into the old library building and hope to meet on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings.
Neil Turner updated members on the Drop in Clinic. Leaflets will be available for distribution soon.
Donald reported on bids submitted to HDAAT by the CHP for a Brief Interventions Worker and for training for alcohol counsellors to enable them to deal with youngsters under 18 years old. Both of these projects will involve Lochaber and Ross and Cromarty as well as Skye and Lochalsh, if bids are successful.
It was agreed that items for the Action Plan be submitted to Donald before the next meeting on 26th March.
Don Esson expressed thanks to the girls for coming to the meeting and for their input. He said it is not easy coming to speak in public but they had done extremely well.
DONALD G BEATON
23rd February 2009