Wigan pupils launch anti-bullying campaign

Hindley High School has recently had 10 pupils who have trained to become anti-bullying ambassadors.

The training was funded by the Department for Education and delivered by nationally recognised charity, The Diana Award.

Assistant headteacher Matt Taylor said the campaign was really important to get across the message that bullying is “not acceptable.”

He said: “This is an anti-bullying campaign and we’ve had 10 pupils who have trained to become anti bullying ambassadors.

“It’s an initiative led by a charity called The Diana Award.

“This is all about engaging with year six pupils going through the transition process to high school, and supporting them with buddy schemes.

“Stopping bullying is the single most important thing in any school.

“Initiatives like this are really important in getting the message across that bullying is not acceptable.”

Set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the charity runs programmes and initiatives involving young people that have a strong anti-bullying message.

The school now plans for these pupils to extend the initiative amongst the student voice team and for them to go into primary schools as part of transition to alleviate fears of starting secondary school.

And the work and ideas from the initiative could be extended across the school.

Mr Taylor said the message was even more important following the death of Caroline Flack.

The former Love Island presenter took her own life last month ahead of a highly publicised assault trial, with many highlighting the bullying culture on social media in the wake of her death.

Mr Taylor said: Following Caroline Flack’s sad death, it’s important for people and for us as a nation to understand the impact that words can have on people and for them to be kind.

“Every school has bullies but it’s about how we deal with them and raising awareness and understanding of the impact that bullies can have on people’s lives.

“The aim is to eradicate bullying as no one likes bullies.”