Dear Year 12 life-changer,

You have been invited by the THiS Project team to put your skills to good use in a
collaborative anti-bullying campaign whose effects will filter down through the year groups.

Who? THiS Project is a partnership between Haydon School and the students of the
University of Cambridge, headed by ex-Haydon pupil Taz Rasul. We will be keeping in
contact with you throughout January and February to help you to make a positive change in
Haydon. Please heavily use your website: www.THiSProjectHaydon.org.

What? What do you love doing and what are your skills? Work alone or form a working
group with form friends who have complementary interests, to put your skills towards a
creation of your choice that will help to raise awareness of different aspects sexual and
gender diversity (LGBT+). You can make your topic very general (e.g. a leaflet explaining
what “LGBT” means) or narrowly-focused (e.g. a cartoon on representations of
transsexualism in ancient cultures).

Why? Sexual and gender discrimination is hard to beat in schools because 1) it’s an
embarrassing topic for a lot of teachers to discuss; and 2) not many people know much
about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The school has a new zero-tolerance
anti-homophobia policy, but there’s no point in clamping down on use of the phrase “that’s
so gay” if there isn’t education about LGBT issues to go with it. Two-thirds of lesbian, gay
and bisexual young people are bullied in school, and an environment of ignorance is exactly
the place where bullying and fear begin. Just eight years ago teachers weren’t even allowed
to talk about homosexuality – now that we can, we should.

Why me? Even if you’re not lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, you will benefit from
learning and teaching others about gender and sexuality. We all have a relationship with
gender and sexuality, even those of us who are heterosexual and “cisgender” (not
transgender). THiS Project is beneficial to you in two other ways: 1) you get the chance to
give back to Haydon and make a profound impact in the lives of your younger peers; 2) you
have a lot of freedom over your creation, and can choose to do something that will impress
university admissions tutors, colleges and potential employers.

When? You begin working on your chosen mini-project with your chosen group in form
period on Monday 17 January. You’ll get one form period per week to work on your mini-
project (and any of your spare time!). The submission deadline to the THiS team
(www.THiSProjectHaydon.org) is Friday 11 February, and there’ll be an awards ceremony
assembly on Monday 14 February. On your marks, get set, GO.