Getting business on board
Luke Tryl
Senior Education Officer
Community Affairs
UBS and the Bridge
Getting Business on Board - how schools and
businesses can work together to tackle homophobic
bullying
Stefano Nappo
Global Head of Intellectual Property
UBS
Natalia Dawkins
Community and Relationships Manager
The Bridge Academy, Hackney
CA Champions July 2011 - DRAFT.ppt
UBS, The Bridge Academy and Stonewall
UBS
Stefano Nappo, UBS Global Head of Intellectual Property and co-chair of
Pride EMEA; co-chair Interbank LGBT Forum, and Stonewall Ambassador
UBS = Stonewall Diversity Champion, and corporate member of Stonewall
since 2002
UBS Pride EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) established in 2002.
The Bridge Academy, Hackney
Natalia Dawkins, Community and Relationships Manager
The Bridge = a founding member of Stonewall School Champions
programme, part of the Education for All Campaign
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FIT one-day workshops
UBS, The Bridge and Stonewall - working together since 2010 to develop a
day-long workshop for secondary schools centred around Stonewall’s film
FIT.
Purpose of the workshop –
• enhance students’ understanding of homophobia and the impact of
homophobia.
• raise awareness of how homophobic bullying can happen.
• engage young people and teachers in challenging homophobic bullying.
• celebrate difference.
• promote a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.
• train teachers on how to prevent and respond to homophobia.
• deliver part of the Personal, Social, Health and Education, and Citizenship
curriculum and encourage students to be responsible citizens.
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FIT one-day workshops
The joint workshops - delivered during drop down days to Years 7, 8 and 9.
To date some 640 Bridge Academy students have participated.
Workshops – since July 2010 four drop down days delivered with support
from 27 UBS volunteers (gay and straight) – some of whom have participated
in all the workshops. Over 350 volunteering hours from UBS employees.
Teachers engaged – for each Year group a training session was run for the
teachers of the eight classes involved.
Development - workshops have evolved since 2010 with constant feedback
from The Bridge, Stonewall and UBS volunteers.
Involvement of actors - in the early stages, the actors and director of FIT
attended and contributed to refining the workshops.
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Addressing a need – from 2007 research by Stonewall
• 65% of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced bullying
directly.
• 92% of lesbian, gay and bisexual teens have been verbally abused because
of their sexuality and 41% have been physically bullied. 17% have received
death threats
• 7 in 10 pupils who experienced homophobic bullying said it had a direct
impact on their school work.
• In schools where LGB issues are taught in a positive way, young people are
60% more likely to be happy at school and feel their school is accepting and
tolerant.
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Addressing a need – from 2007 research by Stonewall
• Secondary school teachers say that homophobic bullying is the most
frequent form of bullying after bullying because of weight.
• Nine in ten secondary and primary school teachers say lesbian and gay
issues should be addressed in schools or in specific lessons. However,
63% of primary school teachers and over a third of secondary school
teachers have not addressed these issues in their classrooms.
• Seven in ten pupils have never been taught about lesbian and gay
people or seen lesbian and gay issues addressed in class.
• Lesbian and gay pupils who have been taught about gay issues are 13%
less likely to experience homophobic bullying.
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The Bridge Academy, Hackney
A mixed, non-denominational, secondary state school in Hackney.
The Bridge welcomed its first intake of 187 girls and boys in September 2007.
This academic year will see the first students complete their GCSEs, and in
September 2012 the sixth form will open.
The Bridge is a local school for students of all abilities.
51% = Free School Meals.
31% = Special Educational Needs
40% speak English as a second language. 45 different languages are spoken.
21% = African origin from a range of countries including Nigeria, Ghana,
Somlia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Angola.
20% = Caribbean origin
13% = Turkish / Turkish Cypriot.
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A special relationship
• 2003 – formal registration of interest as a sponsor of an Academy by UBS. As
sponsor UBS with a philanthropic client of the firm, provided £2m of the initial building
and capital costs.
• The Academies programme gave UBS the chance to build on 27 years Community
Affairs experience in Hackney to create a step change. An outstanding opportunity to:
– influence and support the creation of an outstanding school at the heart of its local
community.
– marshal the entire panoply of UBS resources, skills and experience to create
permanent change.
– respond to the community need – with 1/3 of secondary school children in Hackney
being un-provided for.
 The case for corporate engagement in education in Hackney was compelling.
Underachievement characterised the borough for many years with only 31% of students
achieving 5 GCSEs (in any subject)
in 2002.
Building
a bridge to the future
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UBS and the Bridge: a special relationship
The UBS Bridge Academy Partnership is based on a shared ambition to build a
continuous programme that gives students, staff and UBS employees superb
opportunities to work and learn together, and has a positive impact on student
achievement, attainment and personal development. It also leverages UBS’s support
of voluntary sector partners.
UBS is focusing its time, expertise and financial resources on:
– supporting the curriculum.
– work-related learning including employability skills and enterprise.
– promoting access to university.
– students’ personal development and enrichment.
– leadership and governance.
A bridge
– professional development of teachers.
to your future
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A partnership in numbers
• Skills and experience through volunteering; from governors to work experience to
sports day
• Over 1,800 UBS volunteers have been involved since 2003, contributing more
than 21,500 hours to Academy related activities.
• In 2011, 500+ volunteers contributed over 6,190 hours through 35 different
volunteering initiatives.
• 2003-2011, UBS employees and clients have raised over £463,000 for the Bridge.
A Bridge To Your Future
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Why is UBS engaged in this initiative?
• UBS’s unique partnership with the Bridge Academy - enabled us to
deliver our commitments to supporting the curriculum and to developing
responsible citizens.
• Tackling homophobia is important to UBS.
• Encouraging and enabling others to address homophobia is part of a
leader’s responsibility. UBS’s partnership with the Bridge provides an
opportunity to reach the next generation and their teachers.
• UBS wants to encourage more schools to use these materials and
business volunteers to take the message into their partner schools.
• Achieve two of the Bridge’s strategic imperatives – to have
established the best business partnership and best community
partnerships.
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This is not just a schools issue
• UBS volunteers explain the importance of inclusivity in the
workplace; how diversity and tackling bullying fits within the vision and
values of a global firm like UBS; and that although the law differs around
the world, international companies take a global view.
• Helping people to be open about their sexuality is important in school
and the workplace.
• The Bridge now has 900 students at different stages of personal
development.
• At UBS we know that LGBT employees will do better / be more
productive at work when they can be 100% themselves. The same is
true at school.
• Visible support from leaders encourages people to be open at work,
and helps to prevent bullying.
• The government estimates 6% of the population are gay or lesbian.
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The Challenges
“My mum doesn’t want me to do this.”
“The Bible says its wrong.”
“Why are you telling me to be gay?”
“It’s not all about sex.”
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Impact
"I think a lot of the students were previously ignorant about how much
of an impact homophobia can have, particularly in the language they
used (calling each other/things 'gay') and it also raised a lot of
interesting debates about religion and it's interpretation. Having a UBS
volunteer in with us was fantastic as it emphasised that this wasn't just
a 'lesson' from school or my personal opinion, it was something
important on a much bigger scale."
Teacher (Geography Subject Leader), The Bridge Academy
“Curriculum Drop Down Days” such as the one run with Stonewall on
Homophobic Bullying Prevention – are effective in reaching large
numbers of students to increase awareness and understanding of the
issues.’
Corporate Citizenship’s evaluation of the Bridge / UBS
partnership
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Impact – student feedback
As a result of today’s workshops I feel I have developed my
understanding of what is homophobia.
A great deal = 42% To some extent = 48%
As a result of today’s workshops I have a better understanding
of why it is important to respect people whoever they are.
A great deal = 23% To some extent = 64%
As a result of today’s workshops I have a better understanding
of what homophobic bullying looks and sounds like.
A great deal = 47% To some extent = 50%
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Impact – volunteer feedback
“I very much enjoy working with the students and each time have learned
something from them, as they tend to see things differently to adults.”
“I wanted to feel part of the community and be able to contribute to children's
development. Feel useful and give support to people that could benefit from
this project.”
“I enjoyed seeing the kids opening up to different ideas and changing their
minds in a subject they were not knowledgeable about before.”
“I enjoyed the whole day! A challenge is always welcome, as well as a change
to the routine. Working with the young people, some of whom were articulate
and thoughtful, even if holding diametrically opposed views, was very
rewarding.”
“Asking the young people what they think seems to get some interesting
results. Things really came alive and the kids were engaged when we
discussed their differing views. Conversation and sharing ideas is good!”
Actor in FIT
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Views on The Bridge / UBS partnership
Every day we see the benefits to students and staff of this exceptional
partnership with UBS. Students’ lives are being changed because of it.”
Stephen Foster, Principal, The Bridge Academy
“The academy’s excellent partnership working is enhanced significantly
through practical and financial support from the academy’s sponsor. As a
result, staff and students benefit from a wide range of mentoring and
coaching opportunities.”
2011 Ofsted report
“I truly believe that the strength of our partnership with UBS is one of the
elements that really sets us apart from other schools and academies. UBS
supports us on every level possible and our students have constant access
to inspirational role models from the world of work who provide not only
professional mentorship but also model skills for successful living.”
Kelly Harris Assistant Vice Principal, the Bridge Academy
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Views on The Bridge / UBS partnership
“For over 25 years, UBS has achieved real, lasting impact, and made a
significant contribution to the recent improvements seen in Hackney. UBS has
taken Corporate Social Responsibility to a level where no City institution has
gone in modern times. The firm demonstrates a serious and sustained purpose
in reaching out from its City base.”
Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney
“I have visited many schools and projects and have never seen such a serious
business partnership.”
Harry Patrinos, Lead Education Economist, World Bank
“UBS’s partnership with the Bridge Academy has created invaluable
opportunities for the Academy’s pupils, their local community, and for UBS’s
staff. It has been and continues to be a leading example of what businesscommunity partnerships can achieve, and I congratulate everyone involved.”
The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister
“We want the school to be an inspiring place for Hackney’s young people,
where students can fulfil their potential, and we continue to work with staff and
students at the Bridge to achieve this. …Our partnership with the Bridge has
had a profound effect on UBS employees, many of whom, like me, feel proud
and privileged to be part of the school’s daily life.”
Carsten Kengeter, Chairman and CEO, UBS Investment Bank
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education@stonewall.org.uk
08000 50 20 20
stonewall.org.uk/primary