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Children urged to get creative to end bullying

CHILDREN and young people are being encouraged to use their creativity in a campaign designed to end bullying.

Anti-Bullying Week will run from November 17-22 and schools and youth groups across the north are being urged to register.

Pupils can also submit entries for this year's anti-bullying art and creative writing competition before the October 10 deadline.

The creative competition is one of the many exciting initiatives taking place in the lead up to Anti-Bullying Week.

This year's theme - Together we will make a difference - end bullying now -will explore people's collective role in tackling bullying in schools and communities.

Anti-Bullying Week, which is celebrating its tenth year, is co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF) and supported by Translink.

NIABF is an interagency group hosted by the National Children's Bureau (NCB) NI and funded by the Department of Education.

"Over the course of the last five years we have integrated a creative competition for young people into Anti-Bullying Week," said Lee Kane, NIABF's regional anti-bullying coordinator.

"The competition provides a channel for individuals to tell a story or convey their views on how bullying should be tackled. Last year there were over 1,750 entries from young people in towns and cities across Northern Ireland.

"Bullying can happen anywhere and to anyone, in lots of different ways. It could be in a physical place, such as the playground, the classroom, the lunch room or in the park. Or, it might take place in the cyber world, on social networking websites, through online games or by text message. No matter where or how it happens, we all have a responsibility to make it stop."

Already, more than 400 schools, youth groups, sports clubs and other organisations working with young people have signed up to take part in Anti-Bullying Week.

Registration is free and all registered organisations will receive a resource pack of posters, workshop activities and presentations.

There are two categories in the competition; art and creative writing. Art will include posters, drawings, paintings, sculptures or photographs, while creative writing will include poetry, short stories, diaries, songs and drama scripts up to 500 words in length.

All entries will be judged in three groups, based on age on September 30, 2014: Junior (under 9 years old), Intermediate (9-13 years old) and Senior (14-18 years old). Entries must be submitted through a school, youth group or other organisation that has registered for Anti-Bullying Week 2014. Deadline for entries is Friday 10 October 2014.

Schools, youth groups and any organisation working with young people can register for Anti-Bullying Week through the NIABF website- www.endbullying.org.uk. Alternatively contact Jenny Reid on 028 9089 1730 or email info@niabf.org.uk.