Why are we walking?

Stonewall research shows that over half of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils experience homophobic bullying at school. The fear and trauma caused by bullying can leave gay young people extremely vulnerable and far less likely to achieve their potential both at school and beyond.

 

Greg and I are taking part because we strongly feel all children should be able to learn in a safe environment and should feel able to be themselves. 

 

Stonewall works with young people, schools, teachers and local authorities across Britain because nine out of ten teachers still say that while they have a duty to respond to homophobic bullying they haven’t received specific training to enable them to do so.

 

Stonewall makes sure that all teachers knowhow to prevent and tackle homophobic bullying as research shows that pupils are 60% less likely to be bullied where homophobic bullying is actively addressed.

 

Last year money raised from the Walk helped fund the distribution of over 20,000 teaching packs to every primary school in Britain.

 

More details

Ten years ago Stonewall welcomed the repeal of Section 28, which had until then made the promotion of homosexuality illegal. Ten years later Greg and I are taking part in the 10th Equality Walk because Stonewall needs our help to carry on our work to tackle homophobic bullying.

 

We are walking alongside Jason’s colleagues from GlaxoSmithKline’s SPECTRUM group, GSK’s employee resource group for LGBT employees, and taking with us 700 bottles of Lucozade Sport Lite donated by GSK for the walk.

 

How your sponsorship money can help

 –Stonewall can send three primary teaching resource packs – Celebrating Difference – to teachers. This will improve the school experience for 660 primary school pupils – who may be feeling excluded and not able to talk openly about their families.

£50– Stonewall can be there for 15 young people, who may be experiencing bullying, through our free Information Service.

 

£100– Stonewall can provide materials for five Stonewall Youth Volunteers as part of a training course which helps them lead their own campaign to tackle homophobia in their local area. Five Youth Volunteers will impact on at least 750 individuals, including students, teachers and parents.

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