Radio 1 broadcaster Arielle Free gave her support to NSPCC Scotland in Stirling today (Monday) by helping to deliver the charity’s ground-breaking Speak Out Stay Safe assembly at Borestone Primary School.
nspcc Borestone Primary School

Arielle, 32, originally from Stirling, joined volunteers at the school in the St Ninians area of the city to see the NSPCC deliver the service.

The special assemblies, which the NSPCC runs in primary schools, help children to recognise different types of abuse and to feel confident about speaking out to a trusted adult or to Childline.

Arielle, who also starred in Harry Potter as a Beauxbatons student, attended nearby St Ninians Primary School in Stirling as a child before going to secondary school at the Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow.

Arielle decided to support the NSPCC after being bullied as a teenager at secondary school after moving to Glasgow.  

She said: “I’ve always been aware of the vital work of the NSPCC to enable children to have the confidence to speak out when something isn’t right. 

“Without this work, so many children would be lost, and I feel like the NSPCC and Childline do so much for children who are experiencing bullying or abuse, or any sort of mental hardship.

“Bullying can have a real damaging mental effect on you, and it is so important to tell someone. I decided to confide in my teacher which really helped as they were able to support me and resolve the issue. The minute you do tell someone, there is such an instant relief that you no longer have to keep that secret to yourself."

In 2017/2018 more than 146,000 primary school pupils across Scotland received the Speak Out Stay Safe service in 918 schools. More than 3,200 children were reached in 25 schools across the Stirling area.

Arielle added: “It was great to come back to Stirling and come along to Borestone Primary School and witness the work the NSPCC do in schools through Speak Out Stay Safe.

“I have always grown up with support from my family, and I think it’s important to support a charity such as the NSPCC, especially as working on ‘Scrambled’ where I have a large audience of children.”

Borestone Primary School Head Teacher, Gillian Orr, said: “The Speak Out, Stay Safe assemblies are a really fun way to get across a serious message to our young people.

“Speaking out about things that worry our children is vital – it helps them stay safe and lets them know there is always someone around them they can trust, whether that’s a teacher or a relative or another trusted adult.

“Our aim is always to empower young people through education, whether that’s in literacy and numeracy or other school work, and this project from the NSPCC does exactly that in a sensitive and age appropriate manner.”

Cllr Susan McGill, convenor of Stirling Council’s Children and Young People Committee, said: “It was great to have NSPCC Scotland back at Borestone Primary.

“Their work with children throughout the country is invaluable and we’ve already welcomed the Speak Out Stay Safe assembly to every primary school across Stirling.

“As a Council, it’s our responsibility to ensure our children receive a well-rounded education and we believe that the message of speaking out to stay safe is just as important as learning to read and write.”

Vice convenor of the Children and Young People committee, Cllr Margaret Brisley, said: “Stirling Council has a proven track record of working with partners to enhance the services we provide and our education service is no different.

“I’m sure the pupils at Borestone had a fantastic time speaking to the NSPCC’s Schools Service team, as well as Arielle, who is a real positive role model for our young people.

“We’re proud to have had such a lasting relationship with the charity and look forward to continuing our work with them in the future.”

Alan Stewart, NSPCC Scotland school service manager added: “We were delighted to welcome Arielle to help us deliver a Speak Out Stay Safe assembly at Borestone Primary School today.

“It is so important for children to have a voice, and that they shouldn’t stop speaking out until action is taken.

“Our aim is to empower children and teach them that our Childline service is always there if they feel unable to talk to an adult they know.

“I would like to thank Arielle for reinforcing this important message and for highlighting how important it is to have volunteers to help us reach every child in schools across Scotland.”