Anti-Bullying Week is an annual UK event which aims to raise awareness of bullying and to highlight ways of preventing and responding to it.

This year Anti-Bullying week was celebrated on the 15^th – 19^th November with the theme being ‘One Kind Word’. Learners at Thornbeck marked the event by participating in a range of activities including:

Tutorials

During their weekly Tutorial sessions, learners developed their knowledge and understanding in relation to what bullying is, what behaviour is acceptable and behaviour that may be considered as bullying. Learners also looked into cyber- bullying,  including the forms this may take and appropriate blocking and reporting features on social media.

Graffiti Workshop

A graffiti workshop delivered by professional wedding photographer Lee Scullion. Learners accessed a workshop to design and spray paint a piece of art work linking to the theme ‘One Kind Word’ which will be displayed in the learner common room.

Performance

Learners performed a Makaton song which provided an important message relating to friendship and kindness.  The song chosen for the performance, by the learners was Bruno Mars Count on Me (unable to use on the website due to copyright).

Random Acts of Kindness

Staff at Thornbeck supported learners to take part in random acts of kindness towards one another. One learner collected his peer’s favourite sensory item for him in free time, another learner supported his friend to put on his apron while working in the kitchen and one learner independently collected learner plates when they had finished their lunch. Staff made cups of tea for their colleagues and a member of the leadership team bought cakes for all staff and learners to enjoy.

T-shirt Competition

Learners were supported to design a logo to represent anti-bullying. Learners completed their designs and as part of learner voice a vote was arranged to identify the learners favourite logo. Once this was decided the two winning logo’s were printed onto t-shirts.

Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. Participating in the event has supported learners to develop their understanding of bullying, the forms bullying can take and who to inform if they thought bullying was occurring. It has also supported learners to develop positive relationships with their peers and promoted a positive college community.

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