Friday is devoted to friendship

OUR school days – and indeed our adult lives – can feel very tough without friends to support us, to make us laugh and to give us encouragement. Statistics from the Department for Education suggest roughly one child in every class in every school in the UK is frequently bullied. These children are in desperate need of a friend.

We all know how important our friends are, and on Friday, November 10, anti-bullying charity Kidscape is celebrating Friendship Friday, an opportunity for young people to celebrate the friends they have, and to make some new ones.

This Friendship Friday, remember these simple points to nurture your friendships:

we are all unique – so choose friends who like you for who you are;

it is better to have a small group of friends that really love you than hundreds of friends that don’t really know you. And remember, followers aren’t friends;

if you are lucky you’ll have a best friend forever, but it’s much more usual to have friends that come and go – so be open to new friendships;

friends don’t hurt you. If someone makes you feel bad about yourself, it’s time to “unfriend”.

Look out for people who are on their own and sad. A smile, a compliment or a chat can make someone’s day.

To find out more about Friendship Friday, to get advice on bullying, or to donate, visit www. kidscape.org.uk Lauren Seager-Smith Chief Executive Officer Kidscape