Taking A Stand For Anti-Bullying Week
November 21st to 25th was the 2nd Annual Anti-Bullying Week, organized
by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA). The week was launched nationally
at Central Hall in Westminster with an all day showcase event called,
“Challenging Bullying – Children and Young People Lead the
Way”. The day involved speeches from Esther Rantzen (President of
the ABA and Childline), Beth Cordingly (Childline Ambassador and actress),
The Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith (Minister of State for Schools), and Professor
Al Aynsley-Green (Children’s Commissioner for England).
Throughout the day, including 2 hours over the lunchtime period, the Northamptonshire Tackling Homophobia in Schools Project were asked to run an exhibit promoting our work in the market stall area, which was constantly busy and thriving. We felt very privileged to be asked, as there were only around 20 stalls on display. Furthermore, we were the only representatives of projects working specifically at targeting homophobic bullying from the whole country. There was constant interest throughout the day from individuals and projects from all over the country and we gave away a large amount of information on the research and work we have been carrying out, as well as making a lot of useful and exciting contacts for the future of the project.
There was also a substantial contribution from the young people who attended the event, including anti-bullying songs and a pantomime, stories about their own personal experiences and a presentation of Diana Princess of Wales Anti-Bullying awards to some very deserving young people. The day was rounded off nicely by a “Question Time” event, which was chaired by ITV newsreader Alistair Stewart. There were many probing and difficult questions for the panel which raised a lot of issues and debate and left us all in a thoughtful mood at the end of a very rewarding and valuable day.
The week before Anti-Bullying Week I sent out a mailing to every secondary education establishment in the county. I alerted them to the fact that it was Anti-Bullying Week, informing them of the work that I do to support LGBT young people and the work that Jo Wood, our partner from Healthy Schools, can do to help tackle Homophobic Bullying in schools. I also enclosed a resource list of materials, websites and other information that can be used by schools to tackle homophobic bullying on an individual basis or through a whole school approach. I have already had a positive response and hope that the information continues to filter its way through secondary education establishments in Northamptonshire and have some benefit for the young LGBT people in our schools.
Becky Dorman
Connexions PA @ NLGBA