Education Today Education Today Magazine
The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), part of leading children’s charity the National Children’s Bureau, has launched its prestigious ‘Power for Good’ award for teachers and school staff as part of this year’s celebrated Anti-Bullying Week. The England-wide search will see children and young people nominate teachers and school staff who go above and beyond the call of duty to support students around issues such as bullying, relationships, family life and mental health.
A wealth of research shows that bullying impacts on children’s ability to learn. ABA want to celebrate teachers that make a very real and lasting difference in children’s lives by taking action against bullying and going the extra mile to make sure every child feels safe, secure and supported.
The award is just one part of an exciting line up for Anti-Bullying Week 2016, which this year runs from the 14th-18th November with the theme Power for Good. As well as the award for teachers, the Anti-Bullying Alliance is calling on students and school staff across England to showcase their creativity and harness their ‘inner Director’ by entering a film -highlighting how important it is to use our Power for Good to stop bullying and create a world we’d all like to live in- with the chance to become the official film of Anti-Bullying Week 2016.
The aims for Anti-Bullying Week 2016, which this year is sponsored by SafeToNet and the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation and delivered in partnership with Internet Matters, are to:
- support children and young people to use their Power for Good – by understanding the ways in which they are powerful and encouraging individual and collective action to stop bullying and create the best world possible.
- help parents and carers to use their Power for Good – through supporting children with issues relating to bullying and working together with schools to stop bullying.
- encourage all teachers, school support staff and youth workers to use their Power for Good – by valuing the difference they can make in a child’s life, and taking individual and collective action to prevent bullying and create safe environments where children can thrive.
Lauren Seager-Smith, National Co-ordinator of the Anti-Bullying Alliance said: ‘Bullying is an abuse of power – whether face to face or online, and this year we want to support the whole community: children, teachers, parents and carers to work together to use their Power for Good to stop bullying wherever and whenever it happens and create safe environments where children can thrive.’
Ben Cohen, founder of the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) for Anti-Bullying Week 2016. At the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation we echo the ethos of ABA by standing up against bullying regardless of to whom it happens. We know that people who are bullied feel disconnected, leading to a sense of isolation and loneliness, a wariness of others and a lack of quality friendships. The Power for Good campaign aims to bring the whole community together to combat these issues, empowering everyone to take a stand against bullying whether it’s taking place in school, the community or online.’
Carolyn Bunting, General Manager of Internet Matters said: ‘It’s essential to recognise that bullying online can be just as hurtful and traumatic to a child as bullying offline. Whether online or in the school playground, bullying can have detrimental effects on a child’s ability to learn and communicate. What one child might consider harmless fun, might be another’s trauma and it can often be difficult for a child to talk about.’
‘Internet Matters is pleased to be supporting the Anti-Bullying Alliance this year to help children recognise when they are victims of online bullying and what to do about it, as well as spreading the message that cyberbullying should not be tolerated. We believe the internet is a force for good so it’s vital children are able to feel safe while they are using it. That is why we are backing The Power for Good campaign to recognise teachers and students who have taken a stand against bullying.’
Georgie Pursey, Co Founder of SafeToNet said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting Anti-Bullying Week 2016 and excited to work alongside the Anti-Bullying Alliance to raise awareness for this incredible cause, not just in November but for every week of the year. Bullying, whether it be in the playground, office or online is unacceptable and a change needs to happen. SafeToNet intends to use its Power For Good to proactively prevent bullying, and encourage reflection and compassion when interacting online.’
www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week/power-for-good-award/
