Find out what our Young ABA group achieved in 2024
Young ABA 2024 : Year in Review
Our Young ABA (YABA) meetings over the course of the year were marked by impactful discussions and creative projects to drive anti-bullying efforts for children and young people across the UK. In our initial sessions, we spent time getting to know each other as a group, before delving into anti-bullying training. The Young ABA, through interactive training sessions and discussions, learnt the basics of anti-bullying such as the definition of bullying, the roles involved in bullying, and how we can look after ourselves when we talk about bullying.
Young ABA: Meeting 1 Reel
As the year progressed, the group provided us some fantastic input into the planning for the theme of Anti-Bullying Week 2024! These brainstorming sessions were pivotal in shaping our Anti-Bullying Week 2024 logo and Call to Action. The Young ABA went through social media training, conducted by a member of our very own ABA Team, where we discussed the six key ingredients to good social media content. Based on these learnings, we then created social media content, including short Q&A videos with the Young ABA members on why they believe anti-bullying work and the ABA are so important. As Anti-Bullying Week 2024: Choose Respect approached, we captured some brilliant footage of our Young ABA having important conversations on disagreeing respectfully. These videos have been viewed by thousands and have helped expand the reach of our anti-bullying work.
In one of our YABA online meetings, we had a media training session from an expert within the National Children's Bureau, giving top tips for when YABA gives interviews. The cohort also had discussions on school belonging and why it is important - these inputs have informed the National Children Bureau's Belonging Matters Programme.
The group also had the opportunity to tap into their inner artists as they designed some Odd Socks for Parliamentarians. These were a huge success and were distributed to MPs (who wore them on Odd Socks Day) during our Anti-Bullying Week Parliamentarian Event. These leads us to the YABA's extraordinary participation during Anti-Bullying week 2024.
Adam Dance MP sporting the odd socks designed by the YABA on Odd Socks Day 2024!
Anti-Bullying Week 2024
Some of the cohort joined us at the House of Lords to celebrate the week and to speak to parliamentarians and leaders of the Anti-Bullying sector. The YABA members facilitated a Q&A session on the importance of choosing respect with ABA Patron and Manchester City Football Player Rúben Dias. The group also facilitated the School Staff Award segment of the event that was presented by CBeebies star Andy Day
Some of the Young ABA at the Anti-Bullying Week Parliamentary Event 2024.
Finally, we concluded the year with this cohort by getting the ball rolling for Anti-Bullying Week 2025 : we explored the potential theme for the week, and discussed what we can improve based on our learnings from ABW 2024. Further, with banning the use of mobile phones in schools being widely discussed within our governments and schools, YABA also shared their insightful opinions on this topic. These discussions help us ensure that youth voices continue to shape our work.
The most heart-warming moment came when each YABA member summed up their experience in one word. Their responses—fun, rewarding, and welcoming—truly reflected the impact of their journey.
We are very proud and very grateful to our Young ABA members and all their contributions to help us to unite against bullying - thank you YABA 2024!
Some of the 2024 cohort explaining why they wanted to get involved in Young ABA