NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
24th March, 2014
NEW-BRIDGE INTEGRATED COLLEGE TO BE FEATURED IN DIANA AWARDS ANTI-BULLYING FILM
Best wishes and congratulations to New-Bridge Integrated College, Loughbrickland, who hosted a visit from the Diana Award staff on Monday 24th March, 2014 to film their ‘Anti-Bullying Ambassadors’.
This film will then be shown at a showcase event in Facebook headquarters on Wednesday, 30th April, 2014. Only four schools in Ireland were selected and New-Bridge IC is one of only two schools in Northern Ireland to have been successful.
The New-Bridge 15 Anti-Bullying Ambassadors were trained by the Diana Award in March 2013 under the charity’s Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme, which offers fun, informative and interactive training to young people, staff, and parents to help them tackle bullying in their schools and communities.
Since then, the anti-bullying ambassadors’ commitment and proactive approach to their position has been truly amazing. They are a very inspirational group of young people, committed to making a difference and tackling the issue of bullying.
The events being filmed include:
- A piece of drama, written and directed by Mrs Andrea Grimason, and supported by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE)
- The completion of a urban art piece that the ambassadors have been working on with a local artist
- The ambassadors on lunch duty wearing their blue hoodies, which makes them easily identifiable. They will be around the playground, in the canteen and in the drop in room.
- The lunch activity room with the ambassadors facilitating the activities being led by Banbridge Youth Forum.
- Various interviews by pupils, staff and teachers.
- An interview with MEP, David Simpson.
Congratulations and good luck to all involved
For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact Noreen Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at (028) 9097 2910, mobile 0787 8721327 or via e-mail to ncampbell@nicie.org.uk or via email to lmcivor@nicie.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
1. In Northern Ireland, about 93% of children attend schools which are either exclusively or predominantly Catholic or Protestant. The first integrated school, Lagan College, opened in 1981 with 28 pupils. There are currently 62 integrated schools in Northern Ireland, 20 second level colleges and 42 integrated primaries, altogether educating over 22,000 pupils.
2. A recent Millward Brown survey found that 83% of parents in Belfast believe that integrated education is a vital part of building a shared future in Northern Ireland. 72% of parents believe that funding for integrated education should be prioritised, with enough places available for those who wish to send their children to an integrated school.
3. Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practice a child-centred approach to teaching methods.
4. Established in 1987, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is a voluntary organisation that was set up to develop, support and promote integrated education in Northern Ireland. The underpinning principle of integrated education is that by bringing together Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths in a shared environment, they can learn to understand, respect and tolerate differences. For more information please visit www.nicie.org
