Campaign bus to visit Swindon in bid to highlight cyber bullying

A ground-breaking anti-bullying bus tour is due to arrive in Swindon tomorrow as part of a national campaign.

Transport company Stagecoach has teamed up with The Diana Award charity to launch the UK’s first and only #BeNiceBus. The Diana Award runs the leading Anti-Bullying Campaign in the UK and Ireland giving young people the skills, confidence and training to tackle all forms of bullying as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors.

The bus, which has been donated by Perth-based bus and rail operator Stagecoach, has embarked on a 12-month educational tour of schools across England, Scotland and Wales where it will reach thousands of school pupils.

Tomorrow it will deliver its ‘be nice online’ message to Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and Grange Junior School in Swindon along with the Milestone School and Bridge Training Ltd in Gloucester.

During the innovative project, young people are being invited on board the refurbished bus to take part in an interactive session to encourage positive online behaviour and to warn of the consequences of cyber bullying. They will also be given advice on the steps to take if they are experiencing online bullying. Following each session, pupils will also be invited to sign a ‘Be Nice’ pledge, marking their commitment to behave online in a way that will not cause offence or upset to others.

The Diana Award was set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. It is committed to fostering, inspiring and developing positive change in the lives of young people through practical social action.

Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award said:“At The Diana Award we know how powerful young people can be in tackling bullying behaviours both on and offline. We’re delighted to have the support of Stagecoach and to have launched this first anti-bullying #BeNiceBus during this 20^th anniversary year as we remember Princess Diana’s values of kindness and compassion. We are driving our message directly into schools, a place where young people spend 11,000 hours of their lives. We’re delighted that in partnership with Stagecoach we will have a real opportunity to change and shape thousands of attitudes and behavior to bullying.”

The project is being funded by Stagecoach and has involved the interior refurbishment of a single deck bus to include a number of educational resources to help deliver the sessions. Content will be delivered through video, presentations and interactive sessions.

TV presenter Ferne McCann, who previously gained her bus driving qualification with Stagecoach, and actor Layton Williams, both feature in the videos to be shown on board the bus during the workshop sessions.

Ferne McCann said: "I've experienced first hand the impact that negative, hurtful online comments can have but I also know from experience that kind, supportive and positive comments can give you a real boost and make you feel great. Most people would never dream of trolling someone but there are people who seem to think they can say what they like online and almost forget that there's a real person on the receiving end of their comments. I am totally behind this campaign and I really hope it will help young people across the country think even more carefully about what they are saying online and the impact it can have on others."