We are a school based scheme providing support for any student who needs it, including victims of bullying

Who we are...
8 Aylsham High School students as coordinators, plus other students as ‘Friendly Faces’

Where we’re based…
Norwich, Norfolk

When we started…
September 2001

How we started…
As older students with more experiences, we wanted to help younger students with their worries and problems, and took over a teacher-run counselling scheme – so young people could feel more comfortable by talking with their peers, at first just about bullying issues. We had training from another school which was successfully running such a scheme.

Our work…
Our Friendly Faces room at the school acts as a drop in centre at break/lunch times, and is always manned by at least two Friendly Faces who can act as immediate support for any issue a student wants to discuss. We also have a display board with all out Friendly Faces on it so that appointments can be made with specific Friendly Faces. Plus we run a Roadshow to help students with the transition from primary school to high school.

Future plans…
We want to evaluate our Roadshow to make it compatible with different sized groups and facilities, run more fundraising activities and train new members. We are also developing an internet-based Friendly Faces.

For more information…
01263 733270
friendlyfaceteam@gmail.com

“I became involved because I wanted to help other Years through the things that I went through. I wanted to put something back into the school that has given so much to me… and develop a greater understanding of the importance of schemes like this in making school a better and safer place to be.”
Tommy MacKeown, Year 11, Head of Friendly Faces