|
I Power I produced the UK's first ever national Anti Bullying Conference for Young People on the 19th May 2003
Produced on the barest minimum of budgets we created a huge success. The feedback was tremendous, so many positive comments and so many young people feeling empowered and enjoying themselves. We had 243 Young Delegates from over 50 London schools, and a further 150 adults from schools and various other organisations from around London.
Speakers and presenters included: Andy Hickson (Conference Manager and Director), Juley Murrey (Conference Co-ordinator), Graham Linehan (writer of Father Ted and Black Books), So Solid Crew, Kele le Roc, Lhamea (15 year old Singer/songwriter), Tony Dallas (Urban Storyteller), Michael Mallows (Empowerment Specialist), Tim Field (Field Foundation), Sue Sanders (Homophobic bullying specialist), Lindsay Gilbert (Childline), Dr Sue Jennings (Creative Arts), Ashley Haworth-Roberts (DFES), Asher Hoyles (Performance Poet), Jean Campbell and Sadie Houston (Mothers of bullied children), young people presenting including: Hackney Quest, Holloway School, Acton High School, Islington Arts and Media School, Activ8 Lord Mayors Scheme and South Camden School, and Alfie Tuvey with his magic tricks. We also had a performance Band29. Paulette Dallas provided the excellent food.
We were also very proud to introduce the Damilola Taylor Young Achiever of the Year Award sponsored by Barclays Bank. The award was won by Alfie Tuvey and Sarah Anderson who received £400 each and a trophy. Damilola’s father Richard Taylor very kindly presented the awards at the Conference.
In addition to the programme in the main hall, we had other rooms which showed films, facilitated workshops, and provided a full lunch time menu for all the Delegates, Observers and Contributors.
 (Photo - Asher Hoyles, Poet)
Please note that entry to this Conference was free. This was a non-profit event, with all the workers being volunteers. Some people got travel expenses. All adults who wanted to attend were instructed to bring at least one young person with them.
We are currently looking for financial support for the next Conference, please let us know if you know where this can be accessed.
We have learnt many things from the 2003 Conference, and changes will be implemented into the next Conference to help it run more smoothly, to allow us to accept more delegates, to provide more opportunities for young people to speak and to invite a wider range of guests. It will continue to be a young person’s Conference, and we will continue to insist that all adults who want to come must bring with them at least one young person.
We have also been approached to organise a national Conference. For this to happen we need a major sponsor. Offers are currently invited.
Some of the feedback from young people included:
- ‘Thanks, great food, great volunteers and organised well’
- ‘It was good and I’m glad to have come. It gave me a better understanding on how to cope with bullies’
- ‘Very imaginative’
- ‘I am now going to help my school start an anti-bullying council’
- ‘It was a really cool day’
- ‘This Conference needs to be nation-wide’
- ‘I have learnt not to be afraid’
- ‘Wiked conference man, thanks’
- ‘The food was brilliant’
The funders for this Conference were the Children’s Fund, Help A London Child and the Persula Foundation. With additional finances and resources provided by the Busta Bully Project and Actionwork.
Press coverage included: BBC Radio, Times Educational Supplement, Evening Standard, The Voice, Guardian, Islington Gazette, Camden Chronicle and Sec Ed.
|
