The initial idea was to work with Norwich City Football Club to establish peer support schemes in every high school that requested training. Peer support schemes are part of the range of anti-bullying strategies available to schools. A team of students are trained to look out for incidents of bullying on the school site; they also offer a confidential service to young people, both bullies and victims, helping them with mediation techniques and other ways to defuse tension.

The idea has developed further since its beginnings and now embraces a range of opportunities for active citizenship, including:

- Creating and sustaining effective Student Councils
- Active House Committees and Subject Committees
- Students working with School Governors
- Student leadership of Environmental Teams
- Student Leadership teams, including School Prefects
- Voluntary Service

'Fair Play' was launched in February 2005 at a conference held in the 'Top of the Terrace' at Carrow Road. The event was attended by senior leaders and students from Norfolk High Schools and supported by Connexions, Norfolk LEA and Wherry Housing. A further conference was held in September on the theme of building effective school democracies through active student councils. The aim to hold two conferences each year to introduce new aspects of 'Fair Play' and provide a forum for schools to feed back on successes to date.

As part of its commitment to this initiative, Flegg High has agreed to offer training in peer support to six Norfolk High Schools each year. The training takes place in Norwich City Football Club's new Study Support Centre facilities. Flegg High, which is ChildLine's nominated training school for the Eastern region, is committed to sustainability of this initiative and will offer ongoing support to schools in setting up their peer support systems.

What is 'The Starehe Way'?
The Starehe Way, (pronounced star-ray-he), a cornerstone of the Fair Play Initiative, refers to the philosophy, ethos and practices of the Starehe Boys' Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. It seeks to engender excellence by setting high individual and collective targets, constant encouragement and high motivation, and healthy competition. Princess Anne launched the Starehe Way in the UK last September; six Norfolk High Schools supported this event, the same group of schools who are receiving training in peer support this academic year. Princess Anne has visited Starehe Boys' Centre on three occasions, having become involved originally through her work with 'Save the Children Fund'. 

Starehe Boys' Centre was established in Nairobi in 1959 - a difficult time in Kenya's history, the time of the struggle for Independence.

Post the Mau Mau wars, a large number of children, almost all boys, had ended up on the city's streets, mostly orphaned and certainly without means of survival. Geoffrey Griffin, a white Kenyan of British descent aged 26, wanted to do something positive for these children and for the re-building of Kenya. He persuaded Kenya Shell and BP Company to part with two tin huts, some tools and £500. With this support, Starehe Boys' Centre was born.

Today the school is at the top of Kenya's league tables for academic excellence and it still serves boys in need: 70% of the boys at the school come from destitute families. In a country rife with bullying and corruption, the school is renowned for its absence of bullying and totally inclusive democracy sustained by the weekly whole-school parliament 'Baraza'.

The inspirational Dr Griffin founded the centre in 1959, personally developed its ethos, and dedicated his working life to Starehe. He died in July 2005; his last words to his boys, delivered posthumously at his funeral service were:

'This world is full of people who do their duty half-heartedly, grudgingly and poorly. Don't be like them. Whatever is your duty, do it as fully and perfectly as you possibly can'.

Fortunately, before he died he was able to realise his other dream: the opening of the Starehe Girls' Centre in February 2005.

Representatives from , Acle, Attleborough, Broadland, Cliff Park, Fakenham, Flegg and Hamond's High Schools visited Starehe Boys' and Girls' Centres during the autumn half-term to learn more about their practices and how we can introduce similar strategies in our high schools.

Why Norwich City Football Club is involved
The name 'Fair Play' was taken from the FA Fair Play League where NCFC has always had high billing; the Club finished fourth in the Fair Play league for 2004/2005 Premiership season and were winners in 2003/2004.

The criteria for this award marry well with the philosophy and practices that 'Fair Play' is trying to promote - good teamwork, respect and consideration for others, respect for figures in authority and positive play.

Flegg High made an approach to Norwich City Football Club because they had been very impressed with Club's community work, particularly the wide range of initiatives for young people. Flegg High saw that their own peer support training would complement Norwich City Football Club's other opportunities for schools.

Norwich City Football Club supports the aim of broadening young people's horizons and provides the motivational impact to launch 'Fair Play' initiatives in the right way.

As 'Fair Play' is about creating and sustaining effective teams in schools, there was simply no better partnership than with the Canaries, a team which enjoys outstanding affiliation from its fans. Despite injuries and other setbacks, the team has to go out weekly and do its utmost to win - sometimes against a background of harsh criticism. Simalarly if the school council meeting is not managed well one week, what should the pupils do? Give up? No, redouble the efforts and ensure that the next one is the best it can possibly be?

Norwich City Football Club Finally, has established some outstanding business practices and impressive growth. It provides an aspirational model for Norfolk's youth and has a genuine commitment to young people -investing in today's youth for tomorrow's success.

Why Lotus Cars is involved
"Group Lotus plc is delighted to support the 'Fair Play' initiative and in doing so to promote active citizenship in the heart of Norfolk.

'Fair Play' is something we take very seriously at Lotus both through our association with Norwich City Football Club and our working practices on site at Hethel.

We look to each and every employee at Lotus to help grow our business and in order to achieve our aims we recognise that the input of each individual has direct implications for our future. The 'Fair Play' initiative promotes active decision making and positive behaviour - qualities that we embrace at Lotus.

We look forward to expanding our involvement with the Club through Lotus' active support of this worthwhile initiative - from which I am sure both students and adults will derive rewarding, long term benefits.

How you can get involved
If you require further information, would like to attend conferences or request peer support / student leadership training, please contact:

Cherry Crowley
Flegg High School, Somerton Road, Martham,
Great Yarmouth, NR29 4QD
Tel: 01493 740349 Fax: 01493 740223
Email: head@flegg.norfolk.sch.uk