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Rob Higgs is a sought-after ‘Anti-Bullying’ speaker, actor and author who has over 20 years of experience in schools and organisations.
In schools Rob Higgs, delivers The Boy in The Photograph an impactful and unique presentation that combines Rob’s skills as a writer, speaker and performer.
It begins with Rob telling his story through dramatic performance. It is a personal story, one about his experience of being bullied as a teenager at secondary school and it takes the audience full circle through to the present day.
Rob’s work has been featured in mainstream media numerous times, including appearances on BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, Sky News and BBC Breakfast. He has also worked in local government as as and Anti-Bullying Co-Ordinator.
His down-to-earth approach and truly engaging performance makes him a very popular speaker and presenter in schools, where he leaves a lasting impression and a powerful message to his young audiences.
Contact Great British Speakers today to book Anti-Bullying speaker Rob Higgs for your next event.
Rob experienced bullying when he was in secondary school and decided to do something uniquely positive with his story. After graduating University, he found his Year 10 School photograph and was amazed by how perfectly this had captured the challenging time he was enduring at that moment.
The photograph brought a lot of memories to the surface.
One of the most prominent was a School Assembly given by the Headteacher, who attempted to tackle the culture of bullying in school by appealing to the pupils responsible to empathise with others and STOP.
The Assembly had an immediate effect. Until lunchtime that day. When the patterns of behaviour started all over again.
Rob decided to marry his creative writing and performance skills to his personal story and create a presentation that would empower the audience with practical skills and strategies and have a lasting impact on the way people view bullying behaviour and its themes of: Mental health, Empathy, Resilience, Confidence, Self-Esteem, ‘Bullying’ versus ‘Banter,’ Cyber Bullying and Online Behaviour.
Rob has published two books on bullying. His first book was What Have I Ever Done To You?. In writing the book Rob interviewed bullies, victims, counsellors, social workers and other people who could provide an insight into the culture of bullying and how to stop it.
The book helps readers understand what bullying is and how it happens, how to develop greater self awareness and why someone allowed themselves to be bullied. And it teaches readers how to train their minds to avoid the issue of ‘self bullying’ to build confidence.
Rob explains that self-honesty is the first step to outgrowing the bullies in confidence and becoming a happy, strong person.
Rob’s second book The Boy in the Photograph is also the name given to his presentation that he delivers in schools.
Rob has extensive experience of delivering his presentations in UK and International Schools across Europe. His work has become a regular part of the PSHE/Pastoral programme at many of the UK’s leading schools, including Eton and Harrow with many schools inviting Rob back each year to deliver his impactful message.
He has worked with local government on anti-bullying strategy with responsibility for engaging with schools and communities, has written and directed 12 theatre in education projects, been a keynote speaker at education conferences, delivered INSET training for teachers and lectured at UK Universities as part of PGCE Teacher Training programmes.
Rob currently has two keynote presentations he can offer: ‘Use Your Voice to Change the World’, and ‘All Hail Lightning Pete Giffa’.
Use Your Voice to Change the World: Public speaking takes courage – sustained courage if its a requirement of your chosen career, and being able to speak effectively is such a valuable skill. This presentation is inspired by his 20+ years experience as a professional speaker and performer in varied settings. Highly practical, this session includes performance and writing exercises to develop the confidence to speak well in any setting. The talk covers three main areas:
– Finding Your Voice: Looking at the context and aims of your speech
– Creating a Presentation: Practical written and performance exercises for creating a presentation
– Presentation as a Performance: Confidence building and practical skills for delivering excellence
This talk is available for both school and corporate audiences.
All Hail ‘Lightning’ Pete Giffa: This new talk is about social media, teenagers, toxic masculinity, identity, and influencer culture. This presentation features elements of lived experience, dramatic performance, character comedy, jokes, humour, and live music, to interweave two stories about the power of social media to shape a young person’s identity and the dangers of that. It is informed by his CPD training on addressing social media influencers in school, and focusses on the importance of critical thinking to react creatively rather than passively consumer content.
Story One uses dramatic monologue to tell the story of JACK, a year nine pupil growing up in a dysfunctional family environment. Seeking guidance and connection, he begins to engage with a social media influencer, who positions himself as a ‘guru’ that seems to have all the answers. Jack joins his online community and loses himself in hours of content, starting with the ‘Man Plan – 3 Steps to Be a Real Man’. This has a very toxic message which has a negative effect on Jack as he is pulled further into the community.
Story Two uses character comedy and music to teach a creative approach to critical thinking. Rob tells the story of ‘Lightning’ Pete Giffa, a bouncer in the 1980s, who grew up tough in Toy Town, the most violent town in the UK. Abandoning his true nature to fit in with the prevailing culture, he became an award-winning bouncer before re-inventing himself as an author and spiritual guru. It focusses on identity and provides strategies to encourage its audience to respect the power of social media content, with the clear message that your own voice is one that should shape your identity and who you become, not toxic videos and harmful content.
Both talks are aimed at secondary school years 7-11 and Sixth Form Years 12/13, as well as older teens and young men, colleges and universities, as well as parents.
“Rob Higgs is definitely one of the best speakers we’ve ever had. The way he held the students’
attention was extraordinary, and his opening 15 minute performance was mesmerising
and profoundly moving on so many different levels. The students were transfixed. The
presentation that followed was wonderfully informative and had tremendous pace. The
role play which involved two of our students proved particularly popular and was
managed brilliantly by Rob. He gave us an afternoon to remember, and we can’t wait to
have him back again!”
Kendal Mills, Senior Master, Stamford School.
“Rob Higgs has been delivering his drama presentation on Anti-Bullying to year 9
pupils for the last two years at Oundle School. His delivery is unique and engaging so the
pupils are immediately able to identify with the message he is putting across. His honest
and wide ranging approach appeals to this age group and they quickly involve
themselves in the presentation, volunteering to take part and asking pertinent questions
without embarrassment. The feedback from the pupils is always extremely positive and it
facilitates valuable discussions far beyond the presentation as well as providing a
platform for further work on this very important issue. He will certainly be invited back!”
Marianne Smith, Head of PSHE, Oundle School
“A thought provoking and engaging presentation that hits the mark. The right balance of
humour and gravitas that keeps the discussion rolling long after the event.”
Jon Ricketts, Senior Deputy Head, The King’s School, Worcester.