Choices for Life - "an inspired event for young people" says Jo

5.50.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Jun 2005

Choices for Life was attended by 32,000 schoolchildren

Jo Swinson today attended the Choices for Life event at the SECC, to see what hundreds of local primary schoolchildren had been experiencing this week as part of a drive to inform children about the important life choices they will need to make as they move through secondary school.

Pop bands and radio DJs entertained the young people, while video clips, a drama and "Millionaire-style" drug awareness quiz communicated important messages about drugs, alcohol, bullying and peer pressure.

50 pupils from Turnbull High School in Bishopbriggs were also taking part in the event as the Choices for Life choir, and 2 of these pupils - Laura Quinn and Anthony Waterstone - today helped out Clyde 1 DJ Suzy McGuire with the "Who Wants to be Drug Aware?" quiz on stage.

Commenting after the event, local MP Jo Swinson said, "Events like Choices for Life help to give young people useful information in an accessible and interesting way. The transition from primary to secondary is a good time for pupils to reflect on the future choices they will have to make. I am sure this event will have made a positive impact on the hundreds of pupils in East Dunbartonshire who attended."