28 January 2015
120 students from schools across the Island will be trained as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors at a special one-day event on Tuesday 3 February.
Children from five primary schools and five secondary schools will be trained by a team from the Diana Award organisation, which was established in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, to reflect her belief that young people have ‘the power to change the world’.
The students will take part in a range of activities designed to help them explore and understand the issue of bullying and will meet children from other schools to exchange ideas. They will learn ways of dealing with the problem, including tips on how to work with teachers to stop bullying. At the end of the training, the students and members of staff who accompany them will leave with an action plan aimed at helping each school to step-up its efforts to reduce all forms of bullying.
Alex Holmes, Programme Manager at the Diana Award, said “As a former victim of bullying I know how isolated and unhappy young people can feel when they are being targeted and I am passionate about helping these people. The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme gives young people the confidence to stand together against bullies and support one another. We give Ambassadors the skills and tools to spread the message that bullying will not be tolerated.”
Jon Tarrant, E-Safety and E-Learning Manager for Education, has been overwhelmed by the number of schools wanting to support this initiative.
“Schools are very keen to promote the importance of friendship and positive behaviour as a way to tackle bullying before it becomes a serious issue and we are delighted to be partnering with The Diana Award to deliver the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme in Jersey.”
The Diana Award’s nationwide, peer-led anti-bullying initiative has already trained more than 9,600 Ambassadors in more than 870 schools across the UK.
ESC Minister Deputy Rod Bryans said “This is an excellent project that will give the Ambassadors the courage to speak out against bullying and the tools to tackle it. The aim is for all young people to feel happy and safe in school and this training will help achieve that goal.”
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