Hi we’re part of an organisaition called the ABC which stands the Anti Bullying Campaign our names are Hanif and Keeleigh. we are here at the beat bullying head quarters on a take over day. Today we have been participating in taking over the BB staff’s jobs. so far I Hanif have been a finance director and I am now a new media director, where as I keeleigh have been working on the cyber mentoring website setting up my profile, looking throgh the website and seeing what is good and what could be changed. We are looking for your comments on this web site and if you feel that any changes are in order and we will do our best to comply.

Have you ever been pressured into something you think you shouldn’t do?

Or, have you ever thought that you should do something you haven’t done because everyone else is doing it?

Stop and think for a second about what you are going to do, whether you are allowed to do it, or if you are doing it to just ‘fit in’!!!

Have you ever been in a situation like this?

It could cover anything, smoking, sex, bunking off school, bullying somebody, damaging something, ANYTHING!?!

If you have, what did you do?

Do you think you made the right decision?

Did you regret it?

Do you have any advice for people who could of been or are in your situation?!

My advice is to not do anything you don’t think you should be doing, especially if it is to please other people.
You shouldn’t have to do something to be apart of a friendship group, friends should just form naturally.
Just remember to always think about what you do, before you do it!

Matthew

A recent article from Becta champions the use of web 2.0 technology in schools and encourages the embedding of social networking into schools’ learning platforms. This is great because it allows young people, many of whom may be previously shy or reserved, to contribute and engage more deeply within a learning environment.

But the issue of bullying, whilst addresses, is somewhat glossed over. It mentions that “the issue of bullying is a general one that can be dealt with by appropriate policies”. In practical terms, Beatbullying knows that often this doesn’t happen. Not all schools have an anti-bullying policy, many are not worth the paper they’re written on and many are piecemeal and toothless. A good anti-bullying policy only works for young people if it is supported and sustained by good prevention work.

Moreover, as access to anti-bullying work and resources should be made physically available in schools, so should access to the same information be made available on schools’ learning environments. We need our young people to be able to effective help and resources in their online environments, in school and wherever they are online. As Becta point out, teachers and support staff need to be fully trained in supporting this.

What up G? Blenny. Co-d. Peng, man…what does it all mean?!! How amny of you guys use slang in your everyday conversations? We’ve got a Street Dictionary starting up on the Streetwise channel and we’d like to know if you use any of these. Maybe you’ve got other words you use. Add to the list - we’d love to know how you talk.

Plus is it a good thing or not? Is it destroying our language or just adding to it? Do you cotch with your m8z or just hang out??!!
xBB

Last week, an International study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that although youth unemployment levels in the UK are down, it has become increasingly difficult for young people leaving school with fewer qualifications to find jobs.

Yes, there are more opportunities being created in the high-skills sector, while unskilled jobs are in decline, but for a significant proportion of young people, there is a clear danger that they will be left without the opportunity to work or the access to training they need to find work. With so much focus on academia, we are in danger of marginalising further an important group of the next generation.

Both political parties are advocating Apprenticeship schemes and well they might. I look around Beatbullying’s offices and there are a lot of young people. We currently have 4 students doing work experience, another young man enhancing his graphic design skills on a work placement, and an apprentice delivering Beatbullying’s work into schools and communities. And not for one minute can we underestimate the value they bring to the organisation, both in terms of ideas, enthusiasm and energy, as well as in actual output.

None of these young people don’t want to learn or don’t want a job. They want to get on in life. What they lack is the opportunity. Apprenticeships can fill that gap. They have long provided fantastic opportunities for young people traditionally wanting to learn a trade, but now’s the time to expand these schemes into other sectors, and Beatbullying offers BB Apprenticeships in its range of employment opportunities.

BB Apprenticeships are a way for young people to earn a wage whilst learning about working with young people, working for a charity, studying for qualifications and generally starting to get to know the world of work. They are high quality training programmes for young adults aged 16-19, who want to develop their prospects and career in the charity sector, take some responsibility, learn and have some fun.

Qualifications are important, and in some areas of employment absolutely crucial, but there is some often undervalued merit in giving young people a chance to learn skills and learn a job, while they are actually doing it. Come to think of it, I’ve learnt more about working in Communications, and about working life in general, in the past two years, by actually doing it and seeing others do it, than I ever gained from any qualifications.

For more information on BB Apprenticeships, look here: http://www.beatbullying.org/docs/home/apprenticeships.html

Reports of racist bullying in Edinburgh schools have risen in the past year according to a new report.

During the school term, an average of 30 cases of racist bullying are reported every month, but this may be only the tip of the iceberg as Edinburgh’s education department admits a culture of ‘under-reporting’ whilst anti-racism groups in Scotland believe that only one in four cases are being brought to light.

Beatbullying’s Interfaith scheme recognises and celebrates differences and suggests that all faiths should be positively endorsed, encouraging young people from different backgrounds to work together for the common good, building bridges between people of different faiths with a view to overcome interfaith bullying, bigotry and intolerance.