A partnership set up to tackle underage drinking has been awarded for its work. The North East Edinburgh Community Alcohol Partnership was named ‘CAP+ of the Year’ by national organisation Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) at its annual awards ceremony in the Houses of Parliament on  April 2025.  

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CAP sets up and supports local partnerships that aim to reduce alcohol harm in children and young people, improve their health and well-being and enhance their communities.

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North East Edinburgh CAP was recognised for its exceptional efforts in addressing underage drinking and fostering positive change among young people in the local community. Led by Police Officers Lauren Munro and Ania Morrison, the CAP has demonstrated outstanding creativity and dedication in tackling complex youth-related issues.

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Through close collaboration with schools, youth clubs, and community centres, Officers Munro and Morrison have identified key areas for intervention and developed innovative initiatives that resonated with young people.

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Key projects that contributed to the CAP award include:

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• TikTok Cooking: This initiative engaged girls aged 13-15 in weekly cooking sessions, providing a safe space to discuss underage drinking and promote healthy lifestyles. Led by a professional catering company, the project fostered trust and resulted in lasting positive changes.

• Let’s Row: Building on a successful previous programme, this project encouraged vulnerable young people to participate in activities like canoeing and paddleboarding. By stepping out of their comfort zones, participants developed resilience, built trust with the police, and learned to make safer choices.

• Sky Academy Collaboration: Students from Castlebrae High School partnered with Sky News Academy to create a news bulletin on underage drinking. Officers Munro and Morrison provided CAP educational materials to support the project, helping students understand the dangers of alcohol.

• Hearts Women's Football Team Collaboration: Working with the Castlevale Girls Football Team, the officers provided support beyond football, addressing social issues and arranging a training session led by the Hearts Women’s Football Team, promoting healthy lifestyles.

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These projects helped fostered trust, resilience, and responsible behaviour among young people. The CAP team have directly engaged over 100 students through positive activities and indirectly reached an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 young people in the past year.

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Lauren and Ania commented: “We had another great year working with CAP. With the invaluable mentoring and continuous support from the national CAP team we were able to come together with other partner agencies to deliver numerous projects over the course of 2024. We’re really honoured to accept this award.”

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"The North East Edinburgh CAP, under the leadership of PC’s Munro and PC Morrison, is a brilliant example of innovation and effectiveness," said Kate Winstanley, Director of Community Alcohol Partnerships. "Their creative initiatives and unwavering commitment to engaging with vulnerable young people have made a real difference in their community. This award is a well-deserved recognition of their outstanding work."

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The CAP's impact extends beyond individual projects. Their efforts have contributed to a reduction in community concerns, tackled serious disorder during Bonfire Night, and lowered weekly drinking levels among young people.

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For media information, please contact: Samantha Patel, Communications Manager - sam@communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk

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