South East Edinburgh Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) has been recognised with an Excellence in Education Award for its pioneering partnership with Sky Studios Academy, delivering innovative, youth-led alcohol education through professional broadcast media production.  

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CAPs are community-led partnerships which bring together local police, councils, schools, retailers, and community groups. Their primary goal is to reduce underage alcohol consumption and the resulting harms, improving health and well-being, and enhancing the wider community. Every year CAP hosts an awards event which recognises local CAPs which have excelled.

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The initiative enables secondary school students to research, script and produce professional television-style news reports exploring alcohol harm, youth drinking and community impact. Using industry-standard studio equipment, young people take on roles as reporters, producers and presenters, transforming alcohol education into a creative, hands-on learning experience.

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The programme began with a pilot involving Castlebrae High School, James Gillespie’s High School and Drummond High School. Its success quickly led to expansion across the city, with up to ten schools now participating and capacity to reach around 1,300 students. Funding support from CAP and Places for People has enabled Lothian Buses to provide transport to the studios, ensuring young people can take part regardless of financial or geographical barriers.

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The partnership was developed in response to feedback that traditional alcohol education methods were not always engaging young people effectively. Working with Sky Studios Academy allowed partners to introduce a more dynamic approach, enabling students to explore issues around alcohol through research, storytelling and production of professional-quality news content.

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Ian Murray MP said: "I am delighted to see South East Edinburgh CAP recognised with this Excellence in Education Award. This partnership shows what can be achieved when schools, community partners and industry leaders work together with young people at the centre.

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“It is inspiring to see such creativity and collaboration happening here in South East Edinburgh, and I congratulate everyone involved for setting an example of how education and prevention can be delivered in a way that truly engages and equips young people."

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Commenting on the award, CAP Director Kate Winstanley said: “South East Edinburgh CAP has developed one of the most innovative approaches to alcohol education we have seen nationally. By giving young people the opportunity to create professional broadcast content themselves, the partnership has transformed how alcohol awareness is delivered, making learning engaging, memorable and relevant. This project shows how collaboration and creativity can inspire young people while delivering powerful prevention messages, making them thoroughly deserving winners of the Excellence in Education Award.”

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