Gold award for Rotherham project

Wingfield Business and Enterprise College is leading on the Safe Havens project in Rotherham and has been given a “gold” award for its anti-bullying work.

The Safe Havens project involves students who act as “leaders” supporting others, with a special area of the school set aside as quiet space where students can get away from the hustle and bustle of the main area during break times.

The project is based in a small number of schools and run entirely by young people on a shoestring budget, who give up their time during the school day and holidays to develop the scheme.

It has won a Rotherham Young Achievers award and a national Diana Award and is currently being rolled out to Thrybergh School, with others setting up  their own Safe Havens units.

Although it has already been rolled out in other schools, the Rotherham Youth Cabinet asked the council’s scrutiny commission to look into the scheme and see if all secondary schools could be encouraged to adopt something similar.

The project has helped hundreds of pupils at the school gain confidence, make friends and excel in their studies.