GROUND-BREAKING ANTI-BULLYING #BENICEBUS TOUR EXTENDED UNTIL 2020

A ground-breaking anti-bullying bus tour encouraging thousands of young people across Britain to be nicer online has been extended until 2020. The news comes on the eve of The Diana Award’s annual #Back2School campaign.

The country’s first and only #BeNiceBus – launched by transport company Stagecoach and The Diana Award charity last year – is on a three-year tour of UK schools to spread its anti-cyber bullying message and encourage young people to be nicer online. The bus is currently spending two weeks in Scotland, visiting schools across the country including Dumfries, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Over the past year the bus, which has been donated by Perth-based bus and rail operator Stagecoach, has run approximately 400 training events across the country as part of The Diana Award’s Anti-Bullying campaign.

Through the innovative project, young people are invited on board the refurbished bus to take part in an interactive session to encourage positive online behaviour and to warn of the consequences of cyber bullying. They are also given advice on the steps to take if they are experiencing online bullying. More than 6,000 pupils have signed the project’s Be Nice Pledge following sessions on board the bus, with the project’s anti-bullying message being shared with more than 28,000 young people in total through a number of different resources.

The #BeNiceBus has also taken part in a number of high profile events across the country, including the Digital Kids Show in Manchester and The Diana Award’s flagship Stand Up To Bullying Day event in London.

The Diana Award runs the leading Anti-Bullying Campaign in the UK and Ireland giving young people the skills, confidence and training to tackle all forms of bullying as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. The charity was set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. Today marks 21 years since the death of Princess Diana.