The Welsh government has launched this year’s anti-bullying film competition which invites pupils to produce storyboards or film clips showing the causes and effects of bullying.
The winners will receive the support of the Welsh government, and a professional video production company will help them to develop and film their ideas.
The competition is split into two categories – primary and secondary. This year’s campaign invites participants to focus their film on characteristics such as disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.
Last year’s secondary competition was won by year 9 pupils from Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones of Amlwch in Anglesey, and features on the Welsh government’s Education Begins at Home Facebook page. The page features anti-bullying advice for children, young people and parents concerned about bullying.
The Welsh government has also published anti-bullying guidance to help schools put in place strategies to prevent, respond to, monitor and record bullying under the banner “Respecting Others”.
Education minister Huw Lewis launched the competition at Cardiff’s Ysgol Plasmawr secondary school. During his visit he heard from pupils involved in the school’s anti-homophobia campaign, “DIGON” (“Enough” in Welsh).
It was set up by teacher Marc Lewis after the school identified that there was a need to address the issue of casual homophobia.
Mr Lewis called on all schools to get involved: “Last year’s anti-bullying films were of an extremely high quality and I was struck by the participants’ enthusiasm and the professional nature of both productions. I encourage all pupils across Wales to take part in this year’s competition and help spread the message that bullying, in all its different forms, is totally unacceptable.”
The closing date for entries is November 28.