Almost 500 students in Newtownards and Bangor take part in Respect Programme
Almost 500 students from two secondary schools in Newtownards and Bangor have taken part in the Respect Programme, funded by the Housing Executive.
Developed by the Children’s Safety Education Foundation (CSEF), the Respect Programme teaches teenagers about the consequences of anti-social behaviour and crime, including hate crime, on communities and themselves.
A total of £3,500 was provided from the Housing Executive’s Community Safety fund for new textbooks, E-books, worksheets and student surveys.
Issues of health and wellbeing and the safety of young people are also tackled.
Michael Fitzgerald, from the Foundation, who works with schools to deliver the programme, said; “We are encouraging young people to challenge stereotypes, think about citizenship issues and also consider opposing viewpoints.
“This helps them deal with problems they encounter in everyday life such as peer pressure, bullying and personal safety, life skills that can be difficult to convey through normal teaching channels.”
The Housing Executive has supported the delivery of the Respect Programme in numerous schools across Northern Ireland in recent years, with thousands of students taking part.
Laura McConville, Community Safety Manager, said: “We want to empower young people to make positive choices and play an active role in their community.
“It is the seventh year we’ve funded this community safety programme, which uses real life situations to demonstrate how everyone in our society deserves to be, and should be, respected.
“This year, Movilla High School and Bangor Academy are helping their pupils get to grips with anti-social behaviour issues in a constructive way.”
Staff at the participating schools said their pupils responded positively to the programme.
Patrick Toner, from Movilla High School, said the programme has been a great addition to the curriculum.
He said: “Students are engaged with all materials and are inquisitive about the topic covered.
“This is adding to their understanding of the law and the effect some of the themes can have on people.”
Emma Coulter, from Bangor Academy, said: “We found the Respect Programme a valuable resource in support of our teaching.
“The topics are relevant in today’s society and the programme provides a simple overview of issues that young people need to consider.”