A FORMER Head Boy at Beath High School has returned to the school after almost 20 years to deliver a message of tolerance and acceptance to senior pupils.

Stuart Duffy, the Founder of equalities charity Pink Saltire, went back to Beath to work with S5 pupils as part of 'a hate crime awareness day'.

Along with colleagues from a number of equalities groups, including Police Scotland and Fife Centre for Equalities, pupils were offered real practical advice and support on identifying prejudice-based behaviour and how to tackle it.

Supported by colleagues from the charity, Stuart helped deliver sessions on LGBT awareness to the senior pupils, which he said were very well received.

Stuart said: “We’ve been working with the excellent team at Beath High for a few months now, supported by kind donations from the 4 Winds Trust and Shell at Mossmorran, and its really about building an awareness in young people about the diverse identities we all have as a community and then re-inforcing the message about respect and acceptance.

"Back in 2017 we helped deliver a similar event at Lochgelly High too, so it was fantastic to be asked back to my old school for these new courses.”

He added: “I’ve delivered lots of talks and spoken at training events for a number of years but somehow I was more nervous about returning to Beath than any previous event.

“I think for me, school didn’t leave too many good memories and being out about my own sexuality was something I couldn’t do at that age.

"Even though I wasn’t out I still took plenty of abuse, as did others like me. I hope those bullies have come to change their views about LGBT folk as times have certainly changed, quite dramatically too.”

Beath have taken steps to ensure LGBT awareness is improved across the school, with posters and special lanyards now a visual reminder that its ok to be different.

The school has also developed a pupil-led LGBT group to help improve the support available for pupils who have worries or concerns about their sexuality or gender, or those who wish to show solidarity on human rights and anti-discrimination work.

Pink Saltire will continue to work with Beath High and Lochelly High schools on initiatives to improve awareness and acceptance of LGBT issues with other year groups in the new school session.