Stand up, Speak out, Make a Difference!
(SUSOMAD Peer Education Project - Academic Year 2015-2016)
Stand up, Speak out, Make a Difference is a peer education programme that was
developed by the Diversity and Cohesion Service over 6 years ago. The programme
evolves year on year by addressing some of the most controversial issues that young
people find important to them, around human rights, prejudice, discrimination,
extremism, hate crime, and community tension. This work encourages young people
to engage in challenging issues and to use their voices in constructive ways,
promoting pupil voice.
The programme last year was one of our most effective, with very obvious impact on
the behaviour of young people, increased confidence levels, the ability of young
people to lead on meaningful yet controversial discussions, and resulting in staff
being more able to deal with contentious issues that may arise.
“Our boys got so much from being ambassadors, their self-esteem and confidence
improved and they all feel that they achieved something from it. Some of our boys
are becoming ambassadors for our school and we are promoting the Anne Frank
Exhibition and anti-racism in the school by displaying the work that they completed.
It is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to gain so many different achievements and I
highly recommend it to other schools. ” Project Lead, Aspire Centre Manager, St
Bede’s Catholic School.
The programme utilises two exhibitions developed by the Anne Frank Trust UK, and
continuing with the success of this work, we have decided to develop a third
travelling exhibition, which will raise awareness of the last Genocide to take place on
European soil, in Srebrenica July 1995.
Schools will be offered the opportunity to host both The Anne Frank: A History for
Today exhibition as well as Remembering Srebrenica in school for a two week period
during the autumn and winter term. These exhibitions will challenge the audience to
find the contemporary relevance of the Holocaust and Srebrenica Genocide, allowing
staff and students to see how racial and religious intolerance and hatred can begin,
and the steps we can take to stop this from happening in the future. The learning that
will take place will offer essential background information and provides the base for
learning for Ambassadors before they commence their peer education work.
Previously, schools have invited their partner primary schools to visit the exhibitions
to be guided around by their peer guides, forming one of the key activities for
transition, as well as scheduling visits from other groups in school. Both have proved
to be very effective for teaching and learning.
A training day will be held for teaching staff and student peer guides to prepare them
for the visiting exhibitions on their arrival. This training will provide vital historical
background CPD for teachers and students, ensuring the peer guides have the skills
and knowledge needed to guide others around the exhibitions.
Throughout the programme students will also be trained to be peer educators, where
they will engage in challenging issues relating to the risks associated with extremism
and radicalisation. They will be trained on how to use their voices constructively,
before they deliver the peer education activities to other young people. This has
proved to be one of the most effective ways addressing controversial issues in the
schools we have worked with previously on the programme.
Students will be then be trained as Ambassadors for The Anne Frank + (YOU!}
exhibition - which uses Anne Frank’s story and excerpts from her diary as a tool to
get young people thinking about current forms of prejudice and discrimination and
develop their critical thinking skills. The exhibition addresses themes such as
religious and racial hatred, radicalisation, religious and far right extremism, war and
conflict and the value of democracy and freedom, which are presented in an
approach that’s current and contemporary, along with filmed interviews from
Bradford’s teenagers discussing their own views, concerns and hopes for the future.
Students will guide and peer-educate other school groups and adult visitors around
the exhibition, discussing the above themes.
The final element to the programme is the Student Ambassadors Awards Dinner and
Civic Reception hosted by the Lord Mayor in recognition of their hard work and
commitment to the project and also as a celebration of their achievement.
We are inviting ten secondary schools once again to take part in the programme
during the 2015-2016 academic year. In order to sustain the impact and quality of the
programme, we are asking schools to make a contribution of £400 towards the
delivery of the project. In return, schools receive:
1. CPD training days for staff and students to support the delivery of the
Remembering Srebrenica and History for Today travelling exhibitions in
school
2. Hire of both travelling exhibitions in school, each over a two-week period
3. Peer education training for selected students, to prepare them to cascade
knowledge and activities within school and to a partner school, in lessons /
assemblies
4. Ambassador training for students to prepare them for their guiding role during
The Anne Frank + (YOU!} exhibition
5. Two scheduled days for student ambassadors to guide during the AFU
exhibition
6. Awards dinner and civic reception for students and staff to showcase the hard
work and progress made during the programme.
Please note, we can only accommodate ten schools on the programme over the
year, and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
For more information about the programme, or if you would like to secure a place for
your school please contact
E: alina.khan@bradford.gov.uk
T: 01274 385620
Alina Khan
Interim Head of Diversity and Cohesion.