Ospreys players have helped to launch a new calendar which uses local children’s artwork to help stamp out bullying in 2015.
In a competition run by Bridgend County Borough Council in partnership with the Bridgend Equality Forum and the Bridgend Says End Bullying project, primary school pupils from across the county borough were invited to submit their designs for anti-bullying posters.
The winning creations were then selected for the 2015 ‘Stamp Out Bullying’ calendar, which was revealed in a grand ceremony at Heronsbridge School.
Children from Plasnewydd, Tondu, Cwmfelin, Penybont, Garth, West Park, Cynwyd Sant and Nantymoel Primary Schools, along with pupils from Ysgol Bryn Castell and Heronsbridge all gathered to collect the winner and runner-up prizes which were handed to them by the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough, Councillor Gary Thomas, along with surprise guests Morgan Allen and Jonathan Spratt.
Following the ceremony, pupils also took part in workshop activities with theatrical group ‘Mess up the mess’ which focused on friendship, identity and working together.
The creative competition entries had been judged by members of the Bridgend Equality Forum, which is made up of representatives from statutory, voluntary and community organisations and is chaired by Bridgend County Borough Council. The initiative was also supported by Bridgend Says End Bullying – a Big Lottery funded and council run project which provides training and support across the county borough to eliminate bullying.
The winning entries that appeared in the calendar, which was distributed amongst the participating schools, were:
Ayla Davies, Ysgol Cynwyd Sant
Dafydd Hopkins, Ethan Underwood, Ethan Humphreys and Owen Edwards (joint entry), Heronsbridge School
Connor Edwards, Plasnewydd Primary
Lille-Eve Cronin, Tondu Primary
Morgan Thomas, West Park Primary
Declan Williams, Nantymoel Primary
Zoe Boswell, Ysgol Bryn Castell
Freya James, Cwmfelin Primary
Ethan Richards, Garth Primary
Noah Bowler, Nantymoel Primary
Zac Morris, Penybont Primary
Wyatt Butcher, Penybont Primary
Natasha Nott, Nantymoel Primary
Councillor Huw David, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, who opened the awards ceremony, said:
“It’s a sad fact, but bullying is something that the vast majority of people have to learn to deal with at some point in their lives. It has been said that every child either knows a bully, has a friend who has been bullied, has experienced bullying, or may have bullied others themselves.
“This calendar competition has helped raise awareness of the different forms of bullying and how we can help others, and hopefully the children will take these messages back to their schools and be more vigilant around bullying issues.
“I would like to thank all of the schools who participated as we were really pleased with the amount of entries we received as well as the fantastic quality of the artwork created by the children. I’d like to say a big well done to everyone who took part.”
A gallery of the winners is available at this link
If you would like any information on anti-bullying training or support, please call the Bridgend Says End Bullying team on 01656 754920, visit their Facebook page (Bseb events) or email the team at bseb@bridgend.gov.uk.