UPDATE ON ANTI BULLYING WEEK IN BEDFORDSHIRE

This is the yellow Anti Bullying Bus which arrived at John Bunyan Upper School on Monday morning, marking the official launch of Anti-Bullying Week in Bedfordshire.

Tuesday was "Be Kind and Make a Difference Day" and children from two schools, one pictured above, went to the Grove Theatre to watch a showing of "The Tiger Who Came to Tea" - my daughters' favourite book when they were little. On Friday Chiltern FM will host an event for young people from 9 Middle Schools to display their musical, dance and drama talents before a judging panel.

Today I attended the 5th and final Bedfordshire Countywide Assembly at Cranfield University with 180 representatives from 100+ organisations including 4 local Councils, NHS, Police, Fire Service, Parish and Town Councils, voluntary organisations etc.

We were discussing our Local Area Agreement and the challenges facing the people of Bedfordshire in 4 main areas - Health & Children, the Economy & Environment, Safer and Stronger Communities and the setting up of the two new Unitary Councils, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford, which replace Bedfordshire County Council on 1 April 2009.
Topics covered included Child Obesity and Poverty, Enterprise and Carbon Reduction, Civic Participation and Domestic Violence.

Tomorrow I am off to London for a 2-day Public Services Innovation Conference, organised by the Local Government Association, to share bright ideas on how to improve people's lives. This Councillor's life is never dull, just very busy!

ANTI-BULLYING WEEK IN BEDFORDSHIRE

Yesterday the Anti-Bullying Bus came to Bedfordshire to mark the official launch of Anti Bullying Week, a national event organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. Bedfordshire Students Against Bullying representatives joined Cllr David Reedman, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at John Bunyan Upper School in Bedford to unveil the yellow double decker bus.

This year's theme is "being different, belonging together' and aims to raise awareness of the serious impact of bullying on young people. There are a series of events involving schools and local communities across Bedfordshire this week.

Jayden Rai, a Year 11 student at John Bunyan Upper School and a Bedfordshire Students Against Bullying Representative said "We want to make sure people know that bullying is not just in school, it's outside - in parks, on the street, even at home and on the buses. We want to raise awareness, so we're doing posters, badges, assemblies, an internet forum and even role play".

200 children aged 9-12 years entered an Anti-Bullying Superhero Art Competition in 17 Bedfordshire Libraries and 12 winners have been chosen to receive prizes at a special Award Ceremony on Thursday 20 November in Flitwick.