Students at Shireland Biomedical UTC in West Bromwich took part in Anti-Bullying Ambassador training delivered by The Diana Award. The Academy also hosted students from West Bromwich Collegiate Academy, Shireland CBSO Academy and Thorns Collegiate Academy, part of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust.
Participants explored different forms of bullying and the scenarios that it can occur, from face-to-face incidents to online behaviour. They worked to develop the skills, resources and support needed to help challenge attitudes towards bullying and support peers in the school community.
At the end of their training, students worked with teachers to develop action plans outlining how they would respond to issues of bullying should they arise, fully committing themselves to the role of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors.
The programme’s peer-led approach to anti-bullying work has gained international recognition, placing the scheme and its ambassador schools at the forefront of positive change and discussion across the UK and beyond.
The training followed recent involvement by Shireland Biomedical UTC students in The Diana Award’s national #FreeTheShoulders campaign, in partnership with haircare brand Head & Shoulders. This included participation in an anti-bullying short film project and a podcast focusing on the impact of appearance-based bullying and encouraging more open conversations around the issue. Both the film and podcast have been shared widely via The Diana Award’s channels and distributed to schools across the UK to support anti-bullying education.
Gulfam Shahzad, Principal at Shireland Biomedical UTC, commented: “Bullying can take place in different settings and is not always immediately visible, which is why a whole-school approach is so important.
“This training helps students to recognise those situations and empowers them with the confidence to support their peers and raise concerns appropriately. It sits alongside the clear policies and processes we already have in place and strengthens the respectful and inclusive culture we’re continually working to nurture across the school.”
Supported by HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Sussex, The Diana Award was founded as a lasting legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales. The charity aims to foster, develop and inspire positive change in the lives of young people through a range of programmes and mentoring, including the youth-led Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Programme.
The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Programme has currently trained over 50,000 young people across the UK to lead anti-bullying campaigns in their schools.
Learn more about The Diana Award.
