A superhero-themed anti-bullying campaign to promote kindness and friendship to children was launched in East Lothian with a dress-up day at Elphinstone Primary School to raise funds for the Buddy Bear Backpack initiative. P1-7 children dressed as superheroes and brought their favourite teddies too. 
The children had a wonderful fun-filled morning and participated with their home-teams buddies in several activities. Buddy Bear was a popular visitor- everyone wanted to shake his paw!
The initiative aims to reinforce and raise awareness and understanding of bullying both from the perspective of the bully and the individuals being bullied.
Backpacks will be left with the school. Each contains activities, a ‘Buddy Bear’ soft toy and a colouring-in story book, about a bear who is transformed into a superhero to resolve the problems being faced by his owner at school.
The Buddy Bear superhero motto, ‘KAPAW!’ (Kindness, Action, Play, Ask, Well done), provides a step-by-step method of preventing and solving bullying.
A website for the Buddy Bear scheme has also been launched: www.buddybearfriends.com
” It is every teacher’s goal to have a school environment free from bullying and this initiative could make a real impact on our efforts to make this a reality. We at Elphinstone are delighted to have hosted and contributed to an event for such a worthy and innovative project. ” Heather Williams
