Students across the United Kingdom are stepping up as leaders in the fight against bullying, transforming their schools one workshop at a time through The Diana Award's Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme.
The initiative, established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales and her belief that young people can change the world, offers free training to primary and secondary schools nationwide. Students attend full-day sessions where they learn to identify different types of bullying, practice safe intervention strategies, and develop action plans for their schools. Upon completion, they become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, equipped to lead assemblies, run workshops, and guide their peers.
The programme's impact extends beyond individual schools. Ambassadors can earn three badges—Inclusion, Wellbeing, and Community—by completing campaigns that champion diversity, strengthen peer support systems, and involve wider school communities in anti-bullying work.
One ambassador named Yasmin describes visiting local primary schools to deliver anti-bullying talks. "I get to use my voice to help others and spread awareness," she said. "It's a pleasure to be among the anti-bullying team."
The programme has grown substantially through partnerships with organizations including Nationwide Building Society, which helped train 10,000 ambassadors, and support from England's Department of Education. Demand has surged, with training sessions fully booked for the 2025-26 autumn term.
A 2020 independent report by think tank Demos confirmed the programme's youth-led, whole-school approach effectively tackles bullying behavior, improves student knowledge, and creates lasting cultural change in participating schools.