Bringing young voices together: My Experience with our Festival of Peer Inspiration 2026
15 June 2026
As a new member of the team, I was thrilled to attend Fast Forwards’ annual Festival of Peer Inspiration (FPI) event this year, where young people come together to inspire, educate, and empower one another for brighter and better futures. The goal of the day is to inform young people about risk taking behaviours as well as inspire young people to get involved themselves for the next FPI.
This year we had presenters from Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh College, Glitchers, NHS Lothian, and some of our own members from Fast Forward to discuss projects on vaping, gaming, and gender stereotypes. It was great to see young people presenting to their younger peers, tackling issues such as vaping and peer pressure. Some highlights from the day included discussing educational resources through gaming. Zach Blackstock presented a game he developed for Fast Foward called MudPit, teaching young kids about risk taking behaviours, safety, and peer pressure.
Additionally, Rebecca Warner-Perry from Glitchers talked about educational games and their success in reaching young kids. The reactions from the P7 class in the audience made it clear how successful games can be a great tool for teaching, as pupils asked how soon they could start playing MudPit in all devices possible. Speaking to Rebecca at lunch also provided me with a better understanding of the power behind games for the topics kids struggle with but may feel shy or worried speaking about.
Another highlight was the incredible ‘Drop the Vape’ video made by students from Edinburgh College, encouraging young people to drop the vape, focussing on the harms it has on health especially among young people. I was surprised with how engaged the pupils were and how much they already knew about the dangers of vaping.
A specific moment that stood out to me was when pupils from the St Augustines R C HS class shared their vaping information leaflet and in response, a student asked when they would share their information to the Scottish Government. The excitement and understanding among the class was heart warming and encouraging. This was also highlighted in the stage itself as the placards in the back of the stage highlighted the voices of young people and their thoughts on vaping. The placards (pictured below) were borrowed from the Children’s Parliament, and they were made by Members of the Children Parliament as part of different campaigns, showcasing that young people do just want to be heard and FPI proved it!
The event concluded with Fast Forward’s own Mark Hunter and his presentation on ‘Outside the Box’, our new pilot programme tackling misogyny and gender stereotypes in and outside the classroom. Mark addressed some of the everyday gender stereotypes and assumptions we all may have, highlighting how there are no specific traits for being a ‘girl’ or a ‘boy’. I was moved by the video he shared during the presentation and am very excited to see more of this new programme in our community.
Lastly, I also had the pleasure of taking some pictures and videos from the day, settling in as the new Marketing and Communications officer. Stay tuned on our social media pages for a sneak peak of how the day went. Can’t wait to for the next one!
If you want more information about Mudpit or Drop the Vape, visit the links below. And if you want to get in touch about Outside the Box, please contact Mark@Fastforward.org.uk or admin@ff.madetomatter.digital.
Mudpit – Edinburgh Napier University Student – PIPS – Peer Inspiration Projects Scotland