An anti-bullying event has been held at Ormiston Venture Academy in Gorleston.
The school welcomed over 100 secondary school staff and students from six different counties to an event designed to provide the knowledge and know-how required to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, as accredited by the Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign.
The campaign, supported by The Duke of Cambridge, is designed to promote peer to peer support and help students and staff recognise signs when someone is being bullied online and offline.
It saw 15 pupils from the Academy’s Years 8 to 10 involved in the training and they are now becoming peer mentors at the academy.
The ambassadors were trained to develop a range of preventative measures to keep their peers safe, including delivering online safety techniques to parents and staff.
Ambassadors were advised on how they can help rewrite their school’s anti-bullying policy, such as Smile and Compliment days, drop in support sessions, and anti-bullying patrols.
Owen Cooper, Head of Upper School at Ormiston Venture Academy and event organiser, said: “This is always such an insightful and educational day for both students and staff.
“It helps empower young people to work together to make not only their school but their community a better place.
“This training, led by The Diana Award, helps to ensure schools and communities have the dedicated up-to-date training needed for staff and students in both online and offline anti-bullying strategies.”
Paul Hanmore, the Anti-Bullying Training Manager for The Diana Award, said: “We were impressed at the commitment of the young people in being able to engage in positive social action to make a real difference to their schools. We feel confident in their ability in carrying on Princess Diana’s legacy of compassion, kindness and service to others in their campaigns they will be running themselves.”
Erin French, a Year 10 student at Ormiston Venture Academy who attended the session, said: “It was an extremely well-structured day and kept us engaged with the tasks that were set, as they were each unique and intriguing. Everyone was so friendly and encouraging, making us feel confident with our opinions and ideas about how to deal or prevent bullying.”
Tamzin Lockyer, another Year 10 Ormiston Venture student who attended the session, said: “It was truly inspiring to see how enthusiastic children are towards wanting to change people’s lives by preventing bullying.”
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