Warriors work with children

Police's youth-oriented Blue Light has teamed up with the Vodafone Warriors to help deliver a five-week anti-bullying programme, aimed at Year 5 pupils in south Auckland.

Warriors Against Bullying – instigated in Wigan by former Warriors and Kiwis captain Dean Bell – has been used overseas with great success for the past six years.

The programme sees Blue Light staff and members of the Vodafone Warriors NRL team use comparisons with the game of league to teach students that it’s okay to ask for help.

Warriors Against Bullying will be trialled in eight south Auckland schools handpicked by Police Education Officers.

Blue Light Chief Operating Officer, Brendon Crompton, says one class in each of the trial schools will do the programme, which consists of a series of lessons led by eight Vodafone Warriors and later, teachers.

During the first lesson, the Vodafone Warriors use the league theme to get key messages across, such as “if you’ve been bullied pass the info on”, like passing the ball on in league.

Brendon says the class “scores a try” when everyone works together to prevent bullying at school. Stories are also told about a bully in a league team and how the matter should be handled. Teachers follow the messages up in several more lessons.

At an assembly at the programme’s end the students then tell their Warrior mentors, parents, teachers and schoolmates what they’ve learned.

Once students complete the programme, they become Warriors Against Bullying and get a Warriors Against Bullying certificate and wristband showing they’ve adopted the anti-bullying message.

Brendon says the Vodafone Warriors participating in the programme are giving up their own time to run it for “the betterment of the community”.

Warriors Against Bullying will be followed up by programmes such as Kia Kaha, delivered in classrooms by Police Education Officers.

South Auckland Leabank Primary School principal, Rex Maddren, says the school is delighted to be involved in the programme.

“The willingness of the Warriors and the Police to work with the children is powerful because they're such great role models for the children.”