Bristol MP backs anti- school bullying initiative

Bristol South MP Karin Smyth is backing a charity’s anti-bullying campaign as thousands of city children return to school.

karin-smyth-bullying-quoteThe Diana Award’s #Back2School campaign encourages people to share their advice to support young people who are worried about returning to school because of bullying.

Karin Smyth said: “If you’re being bullied TELL someone. Bullies don’t want others to know what they are doing. So tell your Mum, tell your Dad, and tell your teacher. If you feel nobody is listening, tell every grown-up until someone listens and helps.”

The #Back2School campaign has been promoted on social media channels in the first week of school after the long summer break. Others taking part include footballer Rio Ferdinand, dancer Ashley Banjo, and Emmerdale’s Gemma Oaten.

The Diana Award is a charity which runs a number of peer led programmes, one being its Anti-Bullying campaign which empowers young people, professional and parents to tackle all forms of bullying, online and offline. The charity does this largely by training young people and school staff to be Anti-Bullying Ambassadors who receive training, knowledge and support to change attitudes and shape behaviours in their schools and communities.