Anti-bullying ambassadors at a South Cumbrian school have scooped a Diana Award badge.
Dallam School ambassadors received the community badge from The Diana Award, completing a set of three badges available through the charity’s anti-bullying ambassador programme.
The Diana Award charity was set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. It aims to empower young people to create positive social change through leadership, mentoring and anti-bullying programmes.
Its community badge recognises anti-bullying ambassadors who have successfully involved their wider school and local community in promoting kindness and tackling bullying.
A total of 17 ambassadors from year eight to year 13 at Dallam School have spent the past year extending their anti-bullying work into the community.
10 of the ambassadors co-wrote and delivered a one-hour lesson on kindness, respect and standing up against bullying to year five and year six pupils at six local primary schools including Levens, Storth, Arnside, Dean Barwick, Milnthorpe and Silverdale.
The community badge required the school to demonstrate at least five actions extending anti-bullying work beyond the classroom.
Dallam School said the work had been felt directly in the school community, and staff now specifically requested ambassador support when rare bullying incidents happened.
The school added that the project had been successful and much of it now centred on emotional support rather than bullying.
The ambassadors first trained in December 2024, earning the Wellbeing badge in January 2025, and the Diversity and Inclusion badge in July 2025, before completing the set with the Community badge in July 2026.
Pupils reported growing in confidence, becoming more aware of the nuances of difficult situations, and developing a greater understanding that most situations had two sides.
Mrs Dunne, teacher and the school’s Diana Award volunteer lead, said: “I’m hugely proud of my Ambassadors. They’ve worked extremely hard to achieve the three badges and make a positive difference to the school and our wider community.
“They are a real credit to themselves, their families and the school.”
Ambassador Abbie Smailes said: “Visiting the primary schools has been an excellent way to gain a greater understanding of pupils’ opinions and experiences of bullying whilst teaching them the best ways to improve their comprehension and actions.
“They can take in the context of bullying whilst giving me the experience to help others when they are in need.”
Alongside the primary school visits the ambassadors appeared on local radio to discuss their work, presented to school governors to request ongoing support, took part in a joint assembly with the school’s Pride club and student council, and created a leaflet for incoming year seven pupils explaining how to identify and approach an ambassador.
The school runs a formal application process for pupils wishing to join the team, with 17 currently involved. The school hopes to expand further next year, subject to funding, and train a new cohort of ambassadors.
