| With the help of local firm Mercury Signs and Designs, police constables Ian Crockatt and Alan Leitch have produced a 15ft by 15ft snakes and ladders game, which will be used in the education of Primary 7 pupils.
The school liaison officers hope the game will act as a simple but powerful tool, explaining the dangers of drugs.
The money for the project was raised jointly by Perth and Kinross Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Perth and Kinross Community Safety Partnership.
Local woman Mrs Isobel Robertson made the large soft dice which is used in the game.
The idea originated with the Peer Education Project in Dundee. In recent years the idea has been adopted by a number of organisations keen to create an effective yet fun educational tool for young people.
Last year, Perth and District YMCA created their own snakes and ladders game to help young people address issues that might lead to self-harm or suicide.
The concept has also been used throughout the country by Barnardo’s in a bid to tackle social exclusion.
Constable Ian Crockatt explained, “The idea is that pupils in every Primary 7 class will receive an input from Tayside Police about the dangers of taking drugs.
“We will go back to the school around four or five weeks later with the game.
“The class will be split into teams, questions will be asked and one pupil will move round the
board depending on the dice throw.
He added, “The game is designed to reinforce the anti-drugs message and to confirm the child’s knowledge.
“The input and game will fit into the school’s social education curriculum.”
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