Alex Holmes- Anti-Bullying

Alex is a friend of the Help Them Behave website and is willing to work with schools in order to support with strategies for dealing with bullying. Here's an insight into the work he does:

Few would disagree that bullying is the scourge of schools and work places. But thanks to people like Alex Holmes, aged 21, from Milton Keynes, the problem is being confronted. While a student, Alex developed initiatives to help victims of bullying and indeed bullies themselves and now, in his working life, he strives to turn peoples' lives around.

Alex was bullied himself at school and this helped motivate him to do something about it. ‘At middle school I suffered from racism quite a bit and then at secondary school I had quite a bit of verbal bullying. This certainly encourages you to stamp it out yourself.’

Working at a local secondary school and in his community, Alex created a series of exciting and engaging ways of getting the anti-bullying message across, as he describes; ‘One of my proudest achievements is the fact that we’re creating a culture here where it's OK, even maybe cool, to speak out about bullying and we’re trying to make sure that everyone knows who to speak to about bullying and that they’re not suffering in silence.’
Alex has since gone onto start many Anti-Bullying campaigns in schools nationwide, acting as inspiration and actively supporting other young people in becoming leaders of the future.

Alex has won many awards- Pride of Milton Keynes award, two Princess Diana Awards and was even crowned BBC Three Counties Hero, has appeared on Sky News, MTV News, Gcap National Radio and even Italian TV, and is a regular contributor to Radio One, Five Live and radio stations and shows. Fresh from winning a national competition with the TV channel MTV, for coming up with a ‘Grand Idea’ against Bullying- Alex worked on an exciting mass media campaign to tackle the issue, with a number of top celebrities, including Dame Kelly Holmes (no relation)!!! And has just recently appeared on Noel Edmonds Sky 1 show, 'Noel's HQ', in which he has spread his campaign further and gained many more supporters.

Alex firmly believes that we all have a part to play in Anti-Bullying work, that bullies need the most help and that we can all make a difference. He is often quoted as saying, ‘It's not just about Bullying anymore, it's about looking out for each other’.

Support Available:

Setting up Anti-Bullying work – so it becomes a part of school life- making it fun and cool- led by the students, supported by the whole school community.
Running workshops with students and staff exploring the issue of bullying
Developing strategies and ways of dealing with Bullying instances for both the victim and bully
Act as a speaker- talking about my work and how everyone can play a part!
Or simply free advice and support through email: anti-bullying@hotmail.co.uk

Anti-Bullying Achievements:

Alex is an ambassador for various youth organisations such as 'Term Time', the DSCF’s 'Need2know', 'Change It/Common Purpose', 'Diana Anti-Bullying Memorial Award' and 'Funds4you'

Feb 2009- Noel’s HQ, Sky 1

Nov 2008- Italian ‘Ria TV’ documentary on Bullying, with focus on myself and work

Nov 2008- Daily Mirror Newspaper article of advice

Oct 2008- ITV Anglia Teacher of the Year

Nov 2007- Radio 1 Documentary – Sunday Surgery - Bullying

Nov 2007- Anti-Bullying TV Advert- press on BBC News 24, Sky
News, Five News, GMTV, MTV News and on all 60 of GCap’s (Global Radio) local station news bulletins and websites as well as various local press/media.

2007- MK Pride (MK Citizen- Press) Runner up (Making MK Safer) / BBC Three Counties Hero (Overall winner)

July 2006- Princess Diana Memorial Award- Inspirational Qualities- Courage, commitment, compassion and selfless attitude and service to others- Making a real difference to school community and society.

July 2005- Princess Diana Anti-Bullying Memorial Award- Tackling Bullying in school community/society.
March 2005- East Midland’s finalist nominee of 2005 Regional Millennium Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Regular contributor to: BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio Northampton, Anglia News, BBC Look East, Heart FM Radio- MK, MK News (Press). As well as various government and youth websites.

Testimonials

‘He’s befriended every child, does Assemblies, he’s headed up the Anti-Bullying, headed up student voice, helped every child in this school and the staff develop as individuals. He’s actually like a mini head teacher in waiting. This guy is absolutely super sonic!’
Andy Howlett, Head Teacher
Kingsbrook Business and Enterprise College (Alex’s secondary school)

‘It’s great to see the work that Alex has carried out, and the recognition he has received- not least in terms of his ever-growing collection of awards. His work has been an inspiration to many others.’
Rt Hon David Cameron MP,   Leader of the opposition

‘Alex has always been there for me and other people in the school and he’s given me courage to speak up for what I believe in and more importantly made it fun and even cool to look out for each other!’.
Michael James
Year 11 Student

‘Remarkable young man’.
Noel Edmonds, Sky 1, Noel’s HQ

‘I’ve Googled you and you’re right up there at the top. This guy just seems amazing!’.
Dame Kelly Holmes, Olympic Gold Medallist

'Alex is our resident Anti-Bullying hero on the site. I'm very impressed with is work and he is a great example of a young role model who is making a big difference!'
Kary Stewart
Need2know editor

http://www.need2know.co.uk/relationships
Need2know is an award winning government website for young people

Examples of OfSTED/HMI Feedback:
Kingsbrook Specialist Business and Enterprise College, in which I set up the Anti-Bullying initiative and contributed vastly to Student Voice initiatives, had an Ofsted report, which commented...

‘Overall effectiveness of the school: Students say they feel safe, that the incidence of bullying is low and that when bullying does occur it is generally dealt with successfully. Students themselves have discussed bullying and proposed support networks to counter it, which the school has adopted. This is a good example of students' commitment to the school community and of the school community and of the school's acknowledgement of the value of involving students in evaluating provision through the 'student voice' initiative.

Personal development and well-being: 'Students are keen to lead initiatives, such as the anti-bullying campaign. Learners in all years have numerous opportunities to take on responsibilities: peer behaviour counselling, anti-bullying work and learning parternering are especially noteworthy'

In the letter to students it was said by Alan Alder Her Majesty's Inspector...
‘As students you should feel pleased that many of you are involved in anti-bullying activities. You also make other positive contributions to your school life through 'student voice'.

The Radcliffe School, Wolverton HMI report:
‘Students said they felt safe and that the few incidents of bullying were dealt with quickly and well by the school. Some students had appeared on television recently to be rewarded for their work on an anti-bullying campaign.’