Crew Outreach and Welfare Services

A 30% decrease in reported poly drug use can be demonstrated among young people accessing Crew and completing questionnaires at festivals 2014-15 from our outcome evaluation.

1. Drop In evaluation forms and surveys indicated that 4,925 service users accessed the Drop In during 2015 of which 71% were aged 12-25 years and 68% were return users. 91% of young people felt the quality of drug information was good/very good and 82% thought the staff were welcoming and provided a good service. This data suggests a need for the service among young people in Edinburgh and an indication that once they engage with the Drop In, many like the service enough to return. Qualitative feedback from young service users supports this and includes; very welcoming, relaxed and pure awesome!; very helpful and understanding; I feel like I understand more; Defo wouldn't touch legal highs now, might have before; good to know there's support
2. Feedback from LGBT Youth's mystery shopper visit included commendations for our informative website and use of social media, good understanding of the different needs of young people, accessible opening times reflective of young people's needs, warm and welcoming environment with the volunteer/staff member ensuring the young person gained as much from their visit as they possibly could.
3. A survey conducted with 76 Edinburgh College students in 2015 highlighted the good work that the service is doing (57% have accessed the Drop In for information, advice and support on drugs and sexual health and found it to be beneficial). Students reported where they felt gaps existed in the current service, identifying that they would like to see blood borne virus (BBV) testing (78%) and pregnancy testing (72%) offered in the Drop In, whilst 41% said they would benefit from Drop In resources being made available on campus. These results are comparable to the findings from the Crew User Impact Survey (2015) where 208 young service users took part and as such the suggestions have now been incorporated into the planned expansion of the service.
4. Findings from the Scottish Youth Parliament report (2015) 'Tackling New Psychoactive Substances; a report on the views of young people' support the development of our existing service and include the following recommendations: a. Increased knowledge and awareness of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) b. Information should be accessible, young person-friendly and localised c. Young people should be involved in the design and delivery of information on NPS d. The tone of information about NPS should be balanced, pragmatic and not patronising e. The provision of advice services should be increased f. There should be further training and support for education/youth professionals about NPS g. Where possible a peer-led and youth-led approach should be used for the dissemination of information and advice
5. The Drop In has received an increasing amount of anecdotal evidence suggesting a need to work with frontline workers and vulnerable young people. This has been in the form of increasing numbers of enquiries and visits from frontline staff in Edinburgh who are worried about a young person's drug or alcohol use. In addition, we have also received enquiries from teachers at a number of Edinburgh high schools who have identified pockets of drug use among pupils and who have also had parents contact them, worried about their child's drug use. Further enquiries from concerned adults have come from the Wester Hailes area where NPS use among young people in the area has grown significantly and workers don't know how to respond. This evidence indicates that frontline workers recognise the Crew Drop In as a source of reliable and credible information, advice and support and further suggests the benefit of expanding the current service to meet the needs of frontline workers and vulnerable young people.
6. A needs analysis conduc...