The AlcoLoLs engage
with Parliament
“ has The not AlcoLoLs
is an extremely well conceived idea which
only produced an extremely positive response from
the young people involved, but which is now clearly capturing
the attention of MSPs and other government officials.
”
T
HE WORK OF A GROUP OF
SCHOOL PUPILS called ‘The
AlcoLoLs’, at QMU’s Centre for
Dialogue, was celebrated at a reception
in the Scottish Parliament in March.
The pupils from Portobello High School
have been working with academics
from QMU’s Centre for Dialogue to
develop a new approach to learning and
communicating about alcohol. The team
was able to present information about the
project at the Parliamentary event hosted
by Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary
for Justice, and attended by parents, police,
government officials, representatives from
alcohol charities and other stakeholders.
The AlcoLoLs group developed from a
Portobello High School project called ‘Peer
Learning Through Dialogue: Young People
and Alcohol’ and has been led by staff of
QMU’s Centre for Dialogue. The project
utilised a state-of-the-art engagement
format to tap into young people’s
knowledge, experiences and needs so that
they could ‘co-design’ their own learning.
Emma Wood from
QMU’s Centre for
Dialogue outlines
the project at the
Scottish Parliament
it become clear that participants were
shrewd observers of the inconsistencies
of the world around them where alcohol is
simultaneously glorified and vilified; friends
looked out for one another in situations
where alcohol could be a danger, and
participants knew what would make a
difference for them.
The ideas generated by the group are now
being developed into a school-wide project
led by participants of the dialogue group.
QMU lecturers, Magda Pieczka and
Emma Wood, who developed and ran
the project in 2010, are now supporting
Portobello High School pupils in developing
their own engagement and learning project
about alcohol.
Professor Petra Wend, Principal at QMU
said: “The reception at Parliament was
a great occasion. The AlcoLoLs is an
extremely well conceived idea which has
not only produced an extremely positive
response from the young people involved,
but which is now clearly capturing the
attention of MSPs and other government
officials. It is great to see the talents of
young people being harnessed in this way.
We are now hoping to secure funding which
will allow this innovative learning project
to be rolled out to more schools across
Scotland.”
Find out more about QMU Centre For
Dialogue and the AlcoLoLs project at:
www.qmu.ac.uk/mcpa/CDial/AlcoLols.htm.
The starting point was to assume that
any peer group of young people could
generate a high level of relevant knowledge
and develop sensible coping strategies to
suit different personal journeys through
adolescence and alcohol.
The team spent four months working
with volunteers in a series of dialogue and
deliberation meetings. Once the group
had developed trust and confidence,
6
QMYOU / Creativity & Culture
Students from Portobello High School take part in the Scottish Parlament reception