The assemblies, commissioned by Somerset Council through its Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) and delivered by Collaborate Digital, aim to equip young people with the skills to recognise when something is wrong and take safe, positive action.
Complementing the assemblies, members of the Somerset Youth Parliament have launched an Active Bystander campaign. This initiative features videos, an article, audio content, and a PowerPoint presentation developed by young people for their peers. The campaign highlights various ways to be an Active Bystander, such as offering support, reporting concerns, or seeking help from a trusted adult, crucially emphasising that personal safety should never be compromised.
Three Youth Parliament members from Haygrove School, Kieran, Layla-Jo, and Ruby, played a key role in shaping the campaign resources. They launched the campaign during Active Bystander assemblies for Year 8 and Year 9 students at their school. Kieran expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, "When Youth Parliament was approached by Mark (Collaborate Digital) and the VRP with the idea of working together on the campaign, we were so excited to collaborate on such an important project." He added, "Research shows that 55% of young people would stay a passive bystander if they were faced with a situation. With the resources that my fellow members and I created, we hope we can reduce this percentage."
Mrs Waller, Assistant Head at Haygrove School, praised the students' dedication: "We are incredibly proud of Kieran, Layla-Jo and Ruby for the time, effort and thought they have dedicated to this project. It has been fantastic to see our students working alongside partners from across Somerset to create resources that will have a positive impact on young people. Their involvement demonstrates the importance of student voice, and the valuable contribution young people can make when shaping messages for their peers."
Cllr Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education and Chair of the Safer Somerset Board, commented on the youth-led initiative: "It is wonderful to see young people leading this campaign and helping to create messages that will speak directly to their peers. We are also incredibly proud that more than 14,000 students across Somerset are taking part in Active Bystander assemblies. This means young people across the county are learning how they can safely look out for one another, whether that is at school or in their wider community. We want young people to feel confident that they can make a difference, while being clear that they should never put themselves at risk."
Campaign assets are accessible via the Somerset Youth Parliament website. The project is funded by a grant from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and delivered by Somerset Council through the Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership. Support also comes from the Safer Somerset Partnership, which unites organisations to reduce crime and disorder and enhance community safety. Collaborate Digital collaborates with educational settings across the UK to help young people explore social issues through critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork.
