Wicked words

We are proud to support an anti-bullying project in South Wales called Wicked Words. As a result of the project a poetry book has been published and will now be used in schools in Wales to help raise awareness of bullying.

WPD’s Chris James (far right) is pictured at the launch of poetry book Wicked Words with some of the participants of the workshops.

Working in partnership with Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Against Bullying and Barnardo’s our support has helped fund a series of poetry workshops held in Cardiff over the past 12 months.

The workshops aimed at children and young adults who themselves have been the victims of bullying resulted in their poems being published in a book entitled ‘Wicked Words’.

Cardiff-based rap artist, Mikey Holden led the workshops, helping participants to find a voice with which to express their thoughts and feelings about bullying through poetry.

Participants - including home education pupils, pupils from Radyr comprehensive and Welsh medium primary school Ysgol Coed y Gof – all submitted poems which are included into the book.

Mikey Holden, said: ‘It means a lot to be involved in a project like this because I feel it's what's needed, it's what I wish had been available to me when I was going through similar circumstances.’

“The creative responses from those who’ve taken part - whether a victim of bullying themselves or responding more generally to the issue of bullying - have been inspiring and very moving.”

Phil Davies, WPD’s Network Services Manager for Wales, explained: “Bullying can take many forms, physical, verbal, cyber and indirect such as gossiping or spreading rumours.

“We hope ‘Wicked Words’ will help to give young people the confidence, courage and strength to stand up for and/or befriend others who maybe being bullied.

“Safety is a matter we take very seriously, it’s important to us and anything that can help to promote personal safety and well-being can only be a good thing.”