Alcohol unit calculator
14 February 2012
Don't know how many units are in different types of alcoholic drink? Now you can use this NHS unit calculator to find out how many units there are in a single drink or in a couple of drinks!
HOT Pilots a 1-to-1 Clinic in Liberton & Gracemount High Schools
Over the last few years we have seen an ever-increasing demand for our Turn Around (1 to 1) service, especially in the schools that we work in partnership with. As demand has risen, waiting times have increased and for the first time we have been forced to temporarily close our waiting lists. In response to this we decided to pilot an additional Clinic service in Liberton and Gracemount High Schools. This will focus our 1-to-1 work and we think it will make best use of our resources.
As this is a pilot, we will evaluate how this works in practice, collect feedback from young people and schools to find out if this is a useful and beneficial approach.
We will continue to seek funding to increase our capacity to provide Turn Around (1 to 1) support for young people in Liberton/Gilmerton and Portobello/Craigmillar. Findings from our pilot will be shared on our website.
New Alcohol Team Project
Health Opportunities Team have a new project!
The Alcohol Team!
It can provide support if you are worried about yours or someone else's alcohol use.
We can offer you:
-Alcohol awareness
-Information and advice
-One to one support
-Group work
-Schoold based education programmes.
Please see our poster for more information.
Feel Good Young Men Feedback 2011
Interested in attending the Feel Good Young Men group? Check out feedback from others!
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT THE FEEL GOOD GROUP?
"I enjoyed coming to the gym, knowing I was going to work hard and feel better after it whilst having fun with friends I made at the gym."
"I enjoy doing weights and cardio workouts."
"I really enjoyed the circuit training with Chris and Scott and the chatting at the end."
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF THE FEEL GOOD GROUP?
"My favourite memory of the feel good group was my first day. I was not left out and everyone was really motivated and was helping me."
"My favourite memory from the feel good group is when we went to Alien Rock to do Rock climbing."
"To be honest, all the trips were fantastic and I really enjoyed them all but every single Friday at the end just eating and chatting was the best part."
HOW DO YOU FEEL THE FEEL GOOD GROUP HAS HELPED YOU DEVELOP?
"I feel that the feel good group has helped me in loads of ways as I am a lot fitter and more confident and learnt more about myself and others and how to respect everyone."
"It's helped me figure out a career path and how to work with others and building my body to feel better."
"It helped me develop physically and mentally as a person and helped me realise a lot."
WHY DO YOU THINK THE FEEL GOOD GROUP WOULD BE GOOD FOR OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE?
"The Feel Good group would be good for younger men as they aren't going to be sitting around doing nothing and feeling bored as they could be getting fit whilst having fun and meeting new people."
"Confidence in talking, expressing feelings and how to get stronger. It can help someone figure out a career path."
"It gives you the chance to meet new people, learn really useful life skills and get fit all at the same time - for free!"
Feel Good Girls Group Feedback 2011
Interested in attending the Feel Good Girls Group? Check out feedback from other girls!
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT THE FEEL GOOD GROUP?
Meeting new people!
Everything! Walks and chatting!
Coming to get fit and have fun!
The other people in the group!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF THE FEEL GOOD GROUP?
The activities like cycling, gym, boxing,
badminton and picnics!
Cycling around Arthurs Seat with the group!
Coming to the group for the first time and having fun!
WHY DO YOU THINK THE FEEL GOOD GROUP WOULD BE GOOD FOR OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE?
Get to talk about thinkg you would not normally talk about!
You meet new people and have fun!
It helps you and you get to talk to someone!
Merry Christmas from Health Opportunities Team
Health Opportunities Team would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Our new "Are You Ready For Sex?" Manual has arrived!
Health Opportunities Team have developed a new resource called "Are You Ready For Sex?" to accompany our popular "Are You Ready For Sex?" leaflets.
The "Are You Ready For Sex?" Manual includes photocopiable resources and gives professionals a variety of methods and activities to help encourage young people to think about delaying sexual activity and/or reducing sexual risk taking behaviour.
The cost is £50 plus postage and packaging. To order a Manual please fill in our Order Form and send it to us on info@health-opportunities.org.uk or by post to 1A Queens Walk, EH16 4EA, Edinburgh.
For more information about the manual please go to Resources page.
Alcohol Research Project
In 2010 the Liberton/Gilmerton Neighbourhood Partnership commissioned Health Opportunities Team to carry out some research. Our Sessional Worker, Eric Chen, carried out this research to collect young people’s views on alcohol use and emotional health. To read the summary of key findings and the whole report, please download the document from here.To access the report in a graphic form, please click here.
Follow Us on Twitter
HOT has joined Twitter, so head along to @HOTHoose and drop us a wee tweet!
Contact Us on Facebook
We are also now on Facebook - Health Opportunities Team - so send us a message or friend request.
CONNECT Health & Wellbeing Event
Health Opportunities Team is hosting its own health & wellbeing event in South Edinburgh on Wednesday 9th February 2011. Funded by Awards for All Scotland it brings together young people from local schools to promote both physical and emotional health. See our CONNECT event page for more information.
HOT Team Run the Edinburgh Marathon
The HOT team ran the Edinburgh Marathon in 2010 entering the relay race and finishing in good time. Photographic evidence may follow!
B&Q Support Work with Young People in Craigmillar
Young people from Castlebrae High School Art Department have been busy redesigning the Craigmillar Drop-In throughout the summer. With support from B&Q's Interior Design Team at Fort Kinnard, the team have got out the paint brushes and more than a touch of creative spirit to create a fresh new look for our drop-in and groupwork space. Our thanks to Mark, Fern, Rebecca and Cherise for their inspriational designs and considerable hard work throughout the project and to staff at B&Q for their generous support and guidance. 
Evaluation of Health Opportunities Team is
'universally positive'
At the end of 2007 Health Opportunities Team’s Craigmillar services were independently evaluated by Capital City Partnership on behalf of the Edinburgh Partnership.
The final report reflected the excellence and dedication of the staff team at Health Opportunities Team and the essential relationships the staff have nurtured with young people over the years.
The survey found that 98% of respondents agreed with statement “HOT has helped me to understand the choices that I have” and the same percentage agreed with the statement “I am now better informed regarding my sexual health”. Many young people reflected the ethos of the agency and the value of having a safe space to seek support:
“I felt happier than when I went in and also listened to and respected I didn't feel judged”
The feedback received also highlighted that we are held in high regard by our professional peers. Particularly relevant is the positive feedback from the teachers at the schools where we are seen to be an integral part of the school community. The health practitioners similarly rated the project highly with one describing us as a “….high quality consistent service”. Another colleague from the NHS commented:
“…[Health Opportunities Team] provides many necessary resources and services to local young people. I believe it evidences work from a strong value base informed by knowledgeable staff and leadership and guided by their experience and skill.”
The report concluded that “This project delivers effective and appropriate education and preventative services to a high needs group at a critical period in their lives. Feedback from peers, from the health and schools sectors and from service users is universally positive.”
The full report can be downloaded from here.
In 2006 we also conducted an internal evaluation of our services. This report can be downloaded from here.
Portobello Emotional Health Project
The Portobello pilot project was completed and was very successful. Young people who took part in our support programmes had a reduction in their emotional distress. When we asked them 3 months later, they still felt better. They were more able to cope when things were difficult and it seems that achieving their own goals had helped them to feel more confident. A full evaluation report is available - just contact the office if you would like us to send you a copy.
Channel 4 recognises Health Opportunities Team
Earlier this year Channel 4 broadcast a groundbreaking five-part series, seeking to uncover the forbidden territories of teenage sexuality and give the lowdown on facts usually shrouded beneath layers of bravado, misinformation and myth.
Accompanying this series is a set of resources for teachers and educationalists which recommends Are You Ready For Sex?, a resource produced for young people by Health Opportunities Team.
More information about the Channel 4 series is available here.
Health Opportunities Team Helps Shape the New
Scottish Curriculum for Excellence
In 2009 the Scottish Education system will adopt a new Curriculum. The Curriculum for Excellence aims to create world class learning experiences for every child and young person in Scotland from 3 to 18, preparing them for life in the 21st century. Ministers have made a commitment to reform, simplify and prioritise the curriculum, building on best practice and retaining much of what is good in the Scottishsystem.
As part of the development process the work of Health Opportunities Team will be used to inform the health and well-being aspects of the new Curriculum. This is a fantastic opportunity for our partnership with local schools to be recognised and for our work to contribute to the development of education across Scotland.
