'Everybody's In Love’ with X Factor success story JLS, and none more so than the UK’s leading bullying prevention charity, Beatbullying, as lead vocalist Aston Merrygold joins the cause to become an official Beatbullying ambassador.
Fame doesn’t always come easy, and back at school in Peterborough, Aston experienced bullying first which makes the charity’s aims to fight bullying behaviour in schools really meaningful to the award wining popstar.
Aston who has joined Beatbullying at a BBTunes music workshop, commented “At school I got on well with people, played a lot of football and loved to sing and act, but even though I was kept busy with plenty of hobbies I did experience bullying myself.
“Often the victims of bullies feel that there’s nowhere to turn and ask for help and that’s what makes Beatbullying really stand out to me – they’re here to listen and help!
“CyberMentors are really brilliant kids who are trained by Beatbullying, who then come together in their own time to give advice and support to their peers, that’s a brilliant thing to do. I can imagine that when I was being I bullied would really welcome the support of someone who’s been there themselves.
“It’s a while since I was at school but I know bullying still goes on in classroom, playgrounds and now all over the internet and on your mobile too.
“We all have as lot to do to speak up and stop bullying by get our teacher, parents and even government ministers on side talking about it and stopping it happening. It’s exciting to be doing this in a way that really works with Beatbullying.”
Emma-Jane Cross, CEO of Beatbullying adds, “Beatbullying is delighted to announce Aston Merrygold as an ambassador to our charity.
“Aston is one of Britain’s top artists and like many kids he’s experienced the realities of school – and it isn’t always fun! But the aim is that by working together we can empower young people to help and support their peers, helping to create a world where bullying in unacceptable.”
Aston participated in a Beatbullying BBTunes workshop that uses music as a way to talk to young people about bullying and communicate their feelings through creativity.
Find more details about supporting Beatbullying at beatbullying.org and seek advice or become a cybermentor at cybermentors.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors: About Beatbullying & CyberMentors.org.uk
Beatbullying is the UK’s leading bullying prevention charity. Founded in 1999, Beatbullying empowers young people to lead anti-bullying campaigns in their schools and local communities, and builds the capacity of local communities to sustain the work. Beatbullying has directly and indirectly worked with over 1.5 million young people, assisting and supporting young people that are being bullied, re-educating and changing the behaviour of young people that bully and preventing bullying in schools and communities across the UK. CyberMentors.org.uk is a safe, social networking site providing information and support for young people being bullied or cyber bullied. Young people, aged 11-25, are trained as CyberMentors, in schools and online, so that they can offer support to their peers. Encapsulated by cutting edge technology, it is a safe website where young people can turn to other young people for help and advice. CyberMentors are also supported by trained counsellors, available online if needed. CyberMentors is a Beatbullying project.
For more information contact Beatbullying’s Press Office: 0845 338 5073
Frank PR – Ellie Farrell | elliefarrell@frankpr.it | 0207 693 6999
Beatbullying - Sherry Adhami | sherry.adhami@beatbullying.org | 0781 400 4963