Making a Difference Peer Education Project

The Making a Difference Project (MAD) came from issues of alcohol/drugs misuse in young people in communities across Aberdeenshire.

Funded by Aberdeenshire Community Safety Group, the project gave towns such as Ellon and Portlethen the resources and staffing to concentrate on trying out some new and meaningful ways of working with young people to reduce alcohol/drug misuse.

During the last six years the project has supported events, activities, training, workshops and one-to-one work which have been brought together into a handbook. This handbook – Making a Difference – It’s in Your Hands, details all the work that has been done with young people and in particular good practice examples which can be of use to youth workers in Scotland.

Results achieved during the project have included work with parents, promotion of peer education, using youth forums, youth work training, and contributing to young people’s events across Aberdeenshire. Also working with the community to look at issues regarding anti-social behaviour.