MORE than 70 young people from 13 schools in Devon, including Okehampton College, on?Tuesday received training and top tips on how to tackle bullying.

The college hosted an Anti-Bullying Ambassadors training event, run by the Diana Awards.

Anti-Bullying Ambassadors is a nationwide peer-led initiative with more than 2,000 trained ambassadors in over 300 schools across England.

Programme manager and former victim of bullying Alex Holmes led the training, encouraging young people to take ownership of their approach to bullying, provide support to victims and devise new ways of preventing bullying.

Alex said: 'As a former victim of bullying I know how isolated and unhappy a young person can feel when they are being targeted and I am passionate about helping these people.

'The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme gives young people the confidence to stand together against bullies and support one another. 

'We give ambassadors the skills and tools to successfully spread the message — bullying will not be tolerated.'

Students were shown videos demonstrating how young Anti-Bullying Ambassadors are tackling bullying in their communities and the group will be encouraged to share best practise.

The training day also consisted of a staff session to help develop the anti-bullying programme.