08 November 2018
The Education Minister is joining a group of anti-bullying student ambassadors and their teachers on a trip to London to take part in a nationwide event that aims to stop bullying.
It is the first time that the island will have representatives attending The Diana Award’s Anti-Bullying event, which engages young people, parents and teachers to change the attitudes, behaviour and culture of bullying both online and offline.
On Monday, 12 November, the Jersey group will join schools across England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland for the event that aims to bring schools together to tackle bullying through interactive workshops.
The trip has been organised by Tom Martin Hughes, who is the first young person from Jersey to be awarded The Diana Award for his voluntary work for St John Ambulance Jersey. The award is given to young people who go above and beyond in their community.
This year’s theme is ‘Choose Respect’ and will feature dedicated panel discussions and interactive workshops to help students and staff better respect each other at school with the help of some inspirational famous faces.
New figures show that 64% of young people across the UK have experienced and been affected by bullying while at school. The average young person spends 11,000 hours in school.
Jersey schools that participated in The Diana Award, Anti-Bullying Ambassador Training have been invited to attend the first day of Anti-Bullying Week in London.
Senator Tracey Vallois said: “I am delighted to have been asked to attend The Diana Award as part of Anti-Bullying Week. It is fantastic that Jersey schools will represent the Island at this event as it shows that we are taking bullying seriously and want to have preventative measures in place and raise awareness to stand up to bullying.
“I am looking forward to taking part in the workshops with our Jersey Anti-Bullying Ambassadors as they have such an important role in our schools. They help to educate their peers on bullying, lead on anti-bullying campaigns, promote a culture which celebrates and accepts difference and help to keep their peers safe both online and offline.”
Tom Martin Hughes said: “Jersey has never attended an Anti-Bullying Week before, however, with the help of Senator Tracey Vallois and Deputy Jeremy Maçon we have been able to take part. I hope that this is just the start of a long running relationship between Children, Yong People, Education and Skills and The Diana Award to ensure that bullying is prevented and not tolerated in Jersey schools.”
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