BEP were part of something we should feel hugely proud of. During her time with BEP, Sajda Butt led this work locally, helping Birmingham schools pilot the KiVa anti-bullying programme in one of the most diverse and complex city contexts in the country. This matters because preventing bullying is not a “nice extra” for schools: it is one of the most powerful public health interventions schools can make. The paper makes clear that bullying in primary school is one of the most modifiable risk factors for poor mental health in children and young people, with consequences that can affect mental, physical and social outcomes.

nterviews with 21 children aged 8–11 across five primary schools actively delivering KiVa as part of the Stand Together trial. Its findings are especially important because they come from a socioeconomically underprivileged and super-diverse UK city, making the learning deeply relevant to Birmingham’s schools.

As BEP, we are proud to have supported research rooted in real children’s voices, real school life and real prevention. It is a particular credit to Sajda, named as a co-author, that Birmingham’s insight and complexity are visible in this national evidence base.