Young people challenge and educate MLAs in first ever Anti-Bullying Forum at Parliament Buildings

The event, which focused on the theme ‘Change Starts with Us’, featured an agenda that allowed up to 100 pupils from schools and colleges to discuss bullying and propose solutions

The first ever Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Young People’s Forum was held today (Friday, February 7^th) at Parliament Buildings when 100 young people aged between 15 and 19 and from schools and colleges across Northern Ireland came together to consider a range of issues related to bullying.

The landmark event, which carried the theme ‘Change Starts With Us’, was organised by the Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF), an interagency group hosted by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and funded by the Department of Education.

Young people in attendance worked in committees and heard about work undertaken to address bullying but it also allowed those young people to highlight issues and make a further call to action for responsible adults to support them in reducing the levels of bullying experienced by them and/or their contemporaries.

MLAs from across the spectrum supported the event which was facilitated by the NI Assembly Education Service. The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey, granted use of the Assembly Chamber for the debate-style event and Education Minister Peter Weir provided the opening statement. The NI Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma, also spoke at the event.

Gill Hassard, Senior Participation Officer at NCB, host of Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF), discussed:

“Change Starts With Us’ was the theme of the recent Anti-Bullying Week and is about showing how we can all make changes to be part of the solution. Whether it is speaking to someone we trust when bullying happens or calling it out if we suspect it’s happening to someone else, we can all work together for a solution.

“We feel that it is important to empower young people to engage with the formal decision-making structures that exist in our society, so that their views, opinions and concerns can be reflected in government policy.  Working in association with the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Service, we are hosting the first ever Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Young People’s Forum, to do just that.”

Outlining the event itinerary Ms Hassard added:

“Participants worked in committees, hearing from experts on key bullying issues about work being undertaken to address these concerns. During a plenary session with MLAs, the young people had the opportunity to discuss these issues and make calls for further action to tackle bullying. Together we can end bullying. Change starts here. Change starts now. Change starts with us.”

Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey MLA, who gave special permission to hold the first ever NI Anti-Bullying Young People’s Forum debate in the Assembly Chamber in Parliament Buildings, added:

“I am delighted to be able to use my first event as Speaker to open up Parliament Buildings to so many young and new voices on a crucial subject.  Today is all about giving young people a platform to share their concerns about an issue they see at first hand, and may unfortunately have experienced, to have the opportunity to give their views and suggestions to Members about what more can be done.  The issue of bullying is connected to so many other areas of major public policy including the abuse of social media and mental health, so it is timely to highlight them in the Assembly Chamber today.”