Inappropriate language use, including verbal bullying, harassment, and swearing, can have a detrimental impact on young peoples mental health and school culture (e.g., Farina, 2019; Noret et al, 2020).

Recent discussions in York with local safeguarding leads in schools, the local police, and partners from the council have highlighted that the use of inappropriate and discriminatory language is an increasing problem across schools in our City. This behaviour happens both in school and online through social media and group chats. The language use is of an increasingly hostile, discriminatory and harmful nature and is a behaviour that impacts both on individual students and the whole school environment. 

Supporting young people to seek help and encouraging bystanders to intervene can reduce the negative effects of such behaviour. Therefore, the aim of this project is to pilot a co-produced whole-school initiative to highlight 1) the nature and impact of inappropriate language use, and 2) simple bystander behaviours children can use to challenge this behaviour and check in on their peers. 

Through our activities, we hope to raise awareness of the negative impact of inappropriate language use on young people and the whole school environment and empower them with skills they can use to challenge inappropriate language use. The activities will run from June to November 2025 in primary and secondary schools across York. To find out more, including information on how to get involved, please contact Nathalie Noret at nathalie.noret@york.ac.uk

This project is supported by the Public Health team and the Youth Offending team at the City of York Council and is funded by the Mentally Fit York fund and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – Policing, Fire and Crime Team.