Fast Forward – Specialising in risk-taking behaviours

Fast Forward is Scotland’s national youthwork organisation specialising in risk-taking behaviours, prevention and early-intervention.

Fast Forward was established in 1987, we work with children, young people and the adults in their lives to promote the health and wellbeing of children and young people to achieve their full potential, lead fulfilling lives and contribute to their community. We use early intervention and prevention work, including peer education, group-work and arts based methods to address and improve health and wellbeing.

Our Peer Education work is delivered through our Peer Inspiration Projects Scotland (PIPS) programme, which celebrates, promotes and supports peer inspiration projects. Peer inspiration, like peer education, is based on the belief that people often gain or acquire knowledge effectively when they are inspired by a peer.

PIPS works with organisations that promote improved life choices for people in Scotland, with a focus on organisations and/or projects that work with and for young people.  We provide guidance, resources and training on peer education and inspiration, and promote the PIPS Charter to celebrate and acknowledge outstanding peer projects across Scotland.

Support from PIPS includes;

PIPS website, which showcases peer education / inspiration resources created by children, young people and parents.  These resources are freely available to be used by anyone working with these groups.

If you have developed resources that you think would be of interest to other organisations and groups, get in touch to discuss adding them to the other fantastic resources up on the website.

Resources include those developed as part of our Own It! Programme, which works with groups of children and young people to develop creative resources using different media to encourage their peers to reflect on risk-taking behaviours, and have a better understanding of their possible consequences.

The Own It’s short films and non-linear on-line decision based games, created by young people for young people to pose questions and raise awareness of risk taking behaviours.

“Feels good to have been involved in making the game”

“It was enjoyable to make and brilliant to see what we produced”

Tailored support to organisations and groups to develop their peer education / inspiration work.

“…thank you so much for your time and efforts with our group last week. Your extra resources about our vaping session have been very useful and are much appreciated. Lastly, I am more than happy to come to the next PIPS network meeting”

PIPS Network of practitioners from across Scotland and beyond, working in youth work, community learning and development, education, health, Police and local and national government.

The Network meets four times a year, to give opportunities for organisations and groups to share their good practice in peer education / inspiration activities, and enable discussion regarding the successes and challenges of peer education / inspiration approaches.  Recent meetings have been themed, and included focusses on;

• Vaping / e-cigarettes – recording available
• InCel ideology / toxic masculinity, recording available
• Young people’s perceptions of risk-taking behaviours

“I enjoyed the network meeting and learned even more than expected. Every day’s a school day!…

We are planning our programme of Network meetings in 2024, and hope that these will include focuses on peer education / inspiration projects involving;

• parents / parenting and
• children and young people with Additional Support Needs and / or living with long-term conditions

If you’d like to get involved with any aspect of the PIPS programme get in touch with mark@fastforward.org.uk or laura@fastforward.org.uk to find out more and get involved.

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