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COSLA Gold for Peer Education

Dundee City Council's Peer Education Project has won the Gold Award at the COSLA Excellence Awards in the tackling health inequalities and improving health category.

The project links pupils from primary and secondary schools in a pioneering programme to communicate healthy lifestyle messages.

Dangers of drugs, smoking and alcohol are relayed to P6 pupils by volunteers from S2 classes, following a period of training. The young people from secondaries also play a mentoring role to help new first years with their transition from primary.

Issues like confidence, leadership and citizenship are integral to the success of the project for all involved.

In school year 2009/10, the peer-led initiative is operating with 100 pupils from 4 secondary schools across 14 primaries.

A video of the project and more details can be found at: http://awards.cosla.gov.uk/2010/03/peer-education-tackles-health-inequalities-and-improves-health-in-dundee/

City council communities convener Cllr Bob Duncan said: "This is a well-deserved accolade for a project that encourages young people to be responsible and make a real contribution to the promotion of positive lifestyle messages."

Dundee City Council education convener Cllr Liz Fordyce added: "We are all delighted that this innovative project has won such prestigious national recognition.

"Peer education is helping many pupils to gain new skills and also learn important health lessons for life."

News Release Date: Friday 05 March 2010