Schools and youth organisations are encouraged to register to show their support for this year’s Anti-Bullying Week and to get creative in the competition.
‘Respect’ is at the heart of this year’s event which takes place in November.
There are just a few weeks left to submit entries for the creative arts competition (art and movie/performance). The deadline for entries, and for schools to sign up to take part in the campaign week, is Friday, September 28.
Anti-Bullying Week, which runs from November 12, is coordinated by Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF) and supported by Translink. NIABF is an interagency group hosted by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and funded by the Department of Education.
Lee Kane, NIABF’s Regional Coordinator, said they will be encouraging children and young people to think about what respect means to them, what it feels like to be respected and how they show respect to others.
“The creative competition and Anti-Bullying Week provide an important way of highlighting the issue of bullying to schools and the wider community. It helps students to understand the nature and complexities of bullying behaviours and explore ways of promoting the positive messages of anti-bullying,” added Lee.
Translink has actively supported Anti-Bullying Week for the last ten years and will once again throw its weight behind this year’s initiative by delivering key messages around the theme in stations, on buses and on trains.
John Thompson, Translink Health and Safety Manager, said with record numbers of people in Northern Ireland using public transport, they want to ensure everyone enjoys safe and secure journeys, always respecting fellow passengers and Translink staff.
“As part of our Translink SPIRIT, we always consider the interests of society, putting safety first in everything we do,” he said.
Translink transports around 55,000 young people to and from school every day and recognises the positive impact of the Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum in supporting pupil development so that respect becomes second nature.
“Anti-Bullying Week continues to grow every year with more young people getting involved and we’re looking forward to making our contribution by raising awareness about this serious issue, protecting the health and wellbeing of young people, our employees and the wider public right across Northern Ireland,” Mr Thompson said.
Lagan College, Belfast, has already signed up take part in the campaign.
The school’s Principal, Amanda McNamee, said as one of the first integrated schools here, it prides itself on the student centered approach, to ensure that Lagan College continues to be a happy, caring and inclusive learning community.
“Fostering a sense of respect in our pupils, both a respect for themselves and respect for others, is a key priority for Lagan College, helping to build a strong anti-bullying culture across the whole school community,” she said.
“Anti-Bullying Week gives staff, parents, students, friends and directors the opportunity to reinforce the anti-bullying messages across the school. During the week we use the NIABF resources to highlight what bullying is and how we can deal with it, not only in school but at home, online and in our community,” the principal added.
To register for, or find out more about, Anti-Bullying Week 2018 go to www.endbullying.org.uk or email info@niabf.org.uk.