Dr. Al

	Dr. Al

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Young people showing other young people how to avoid the dangers of drink and drugs.

Dr. Al (pronounced 'Doctor Al') is a peer training project built on the acknowledged truth that young people respond more readily to warnings from their peers than they do to those of their teachers or parents, whom they perceive (subconsciously or otherwise) as 'out of touch' with their culture and the influences and pressures on them. We have seen this principle demonstrated time and again by our HELP team.

The Dr. Al team have all seen the problems caused by the misuse of drugs and alcohol. They use these experiences to drive home to their audience the dangers of experimenting with these addictive substances, the physical and mental damage they can cause, and the potentially downward spiral that leads to homelessness, crime and alienation from society.

The team develop their own interactive - and often unique! - presentation under expert guidance before they go out. The sessions often have to be tailored to fit the allotted lesson period in schools. The result is a very engaging and often funny presentation which packs a powerful and relevant message which connects directly with their audience. It causes the young people to think more seriously about these issues than they would otherwise do in a normal lesson although, of course, peer education is not a replacement for these - rather, it is an invaluable complement to them.

The members of the Dr. Al team are available to visit all local secondary schools or youth groups, and the service is free of charge.

If you would like to see how the Dr. Al team can benefit your students or youth group members, please contact Michelle Bradford, the Dr. Al Project Worker, on 01252 312407.

Through their involvement in the Dr. Al team, our peer trainers benefit from increased self-confidence and the development of important life skills such as presentation, interaction and 'thinking on their feet' as they field questions from their audiences. We know from our HELP team that those involved are more likely to progress to a successful transition into independent living.

The Dr. Al project is funded by vinvolved - inspiring more than a million volunteers.

Training session for Dr.Al team