Police Scotland would like to invite all High Schools and Primary Schools in Scotland to take part in a new ‘Choices for Life’ competition ‘Your Choice, Your Voice’ in January 2017.

‘Choices for Life’ is an innovative diversionary and educational initiative delivered by Police Scotland and funded by Scottish Government. The main objective is to raise awareness amongst young people aged 11-18 about the risks and dangers of substance use and misuse, including tobacco, alcohol, drugs and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
‘Your Choice, Your Voice’ is designed to support the transition of P7 pupils to High School by encouraging collaborative working between P7 and S1 pupils to develop a ‘creative’ piece around the ‘Choices for Life’ key messaging.

Entries will ideally come from ‘Clusters’ of primary schools working together with their allocated High School to mirror the ongoing transition work already in place.

Competition rules:
• The competition is open to all P7 and S1 pupils in Scotland with one entry per cluster.
• Individual schools which are not part of any cluster are permitted to submit individual entries.
• The entrants are encouraged to research ‘Choices for Life’ to gain an understanding of the key messaging. www.young.scot/choices-for-life.
• The submission must be a creative piece around the ‘Choices for Life’ key messaging which will be uploaded to or embedded in the school website and used to promote ‘Choices for Life’ within the school community.
• The cluster/school will decide what shape their entry takes with suggestions including, but not limited to, short video, musical piece, artwork, or presentation.
• Entrants are encouraged to be as innovative as possible and the piece must be appropriate for 11-18 year olds.
• All entries must be uploaded to school websites and submitted to the competition organisers no later than Friday 24th February 2017 for consideration. Late submissions will not be considered.
• Prizes will be awarded to the three best entries with the winning entry being uploaded to the ‘Choices for Life’ website and used as part of the National Choices for Life program. As such the winning cluster/school must authorise its use in such circumstances.
• The organisers decision on winning entries is final and by entering the competition all ‘Clusters’ are agreeing to the rules of the competition.

The winning entries will be announced in March 2017 with, dependent upon the level of interest, consideration to an awards event:
• Third place will be awarded equipment or resources to the value of £500 for the cluster.
• Second place will be awarded equipment or resources to the value of £1000 for the cluster.
• First place will be awarded equipment or resources to the value of £2500 for the cluster.

Key dates:
• Notification of intent to enter the competition must be provided to the organisers by 20th January 2017. Please email Alan Elderbrant – alan.elderbrant@scotland.pnn.police.uk to intimate that you wish to take part.
• All entries must be uploaded to school websites and submitted to the competition organisers by Friday 24th February 2017.
• Results will be announced before 17th March 2017.

This competition is being organised by Police Scotland, Safer Communities. Any queries can be forwarded to the competition organisers – Alan Elderbrant and Sara Heath.