Behind the Empower & Inspire event — what we learned
On a Saturday afternoon in South London, 40 teenagers gathered for BRA’s flagship Empower & Inspire event. The goal was simple: create a safe space where young people could talk openly about bullying, learn practical strategies, and leave feeling less alone.
What happened
The half-day workshop included small-group conversations led by trained BRA ambassadors, practical strategy sessions for responding to bullying (online and offline), goal-setting and strengths-discovery workshops, and a safe, confidential space to share — or just listen.
Parents had their own parallel session, covering spotting the signs, having the conversation, and working with the school. The two groups came together at the end for a shared reflection.
What we learned
Young people want to talk
The biggest surprise was how much young people wanted to talk — once they felt safe. Within 20 minutes of the first small-group session, every group was in deep conversation. The hunger for a space where bullying can be named honestly is enormous.
Parents feel powerless
The parent session revealed a common theme: parents feel they don’t have the language to talk about bullying with their children. They don’t know what to say, when to say it, or how to help. This is exactly why we’re building our parent resources.
Strategies work
The practical strategy session — covering how to document, report, block, and escalate — was the most-requested part of the event. Young people left with concrete tools they could use the next day. We’ll be expanding this into a standalone workshop.
Community matters
The most powerful moment of the day wasn’t a workshop or a talk — it was the informal chatting during the break. Young people who’d arrived alone left with new friends and a sense that they weren’t the only one going through this. That’s what BRA is about.
What’s next
We’re planning the next Empower & Inspire event for October 2026. If you’d like to attend, volunteer, or sponsor, get in touch. We’re also developing the workshop into a replicable model that schools and community groups can run themselves.