Government unveils £1 million funding to tackle anti-LGBT bullying
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has unveiled £1 million of new funding to tackle anti-LGBT bullying in schools.
Mrs Morgan unveiled the funding as stonewall reports that more than half of lesbian, gay or bisexual secondary school pupils have experienced bullying based on their sexual orientation.
The charity also reports that nine out of ten LGB students have heard homophobic language at school.
The minister unveiled £1 million of new funding, in addition to £2 million which was set aside last year to fund eight projects providing training on how to tackle anti-LGBT bullying.
Schools such as the Derby Moore Community Sports College have appointed ‘anti bullying ambassadors’ to host clubs and sessions where people can talk about harassment and online bullying.
Other schools have created apps to allow students to report incidents of bullying to staff.
Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan said: “Even a single child having their time at school blighted because of bullying is a tragedy. That’s why as both Minister for Equalities and Secretary of State for Education I am determined to do all I can to consign homophobic and transphobic bullying to the dustbin of history.
“The fantastic work being done by charities across the country, supported by the Government, has shown that tackling homophobia and transphobia in the classroom is possible and doesn’t have to be difficult. Today’s announcement will allow this vital work to continue and help even more schools to end this bullying once and for all”.
The Chief Executive of Stonewall Ruth Hunt added: “We believe teaching young people about the importance of inclusivity and acceptance is the most powerful way we can fight homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.
“This Department for Education funding is crucial to this aim because it enables us to make connections with schools and colleges in communities we haven’t worked with yet, and to help them create inclusive environments where all their pupils, no matter who they are, are accepted and encouraged to reach their potential.”
