Promoting Adolescent Crime Prevention through the Creation of a Gardening Group Delivered as Part of a Diverse Occupational Therapy Student Placement

Abstract

Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh runs a four-year undergraduate degree programme in occupational therapy, during which time students complete a yearly six to eight week practice placement in various settings. This project will introduce a new placement (known as a 'diverse placement') into a mainstream secondary school in Glasgow. This will involve two third year occupational therapy students working alongside the school-based campus police officer and teaching staff to introduce positive, occupation based interventions to pupils. Occupational therapy interventions can have a positive impact on the lives of children residing in areas of high crime. In addition, certain occupational therapy interventions have been found to positively influence school attendance and the overall well being of young people. Research suggests that participation in gardening can contribute positively to the aforementioned factors, and as such has been selected as an appropriate intervention to be delivered by the occupational therapy students. Over the eight week period the occupational therapy students will work with a small group of pupils referred to them by teaching staff and the campus officer to create a safe, positive garden space within the school grounds. The group will meet twice weekly after school and turn an empty space within the school grounds into a fully functioning, pupil run garden. The occupational therapy students will be supervised by the campus officer, as well as a locally-based qualified community occupational therapist.