Online kick off meeting: the BTBC cooperation journey begins

In February 2026, the partners of BTBC – Break the Bully Cycle met online for the official kick off meeting of the project. This first meeting represented a key moment to launch the cooperation process, align the organisations and define the first steps of the project implementation.

The online kick off meeting brought together all partner organisations involved in BTBC. It was the first official opportunity to discuss the structure of the project, its objectives, the expected results and the activities planned for the following months.

💬 A central part of the meeting was dedicated to the introduction of the project topic: bullying in sport environments. Partners shared reflections on how bullying can affect young people’s wellbeing, participation and motivation. They also discussed how sport can become a powerful educational tool when coaches, educators and volunteers are properly prepared to manage group dynamics and promote inclusive values.

Sport can help young people develop self-confidence, teamwork, discipline and social skills. However, sport groups can also become difficult spaces when competition, comparison, exclusion or negative peer pressure are not properly addressed. For this reason, the BTBC project focuses on the importance of prevention, awareness and practical intervention.

During the meeting, the partners reviewed the main objectives of the project:

✅ creating safer and more inclusive sport environments;

✅ increasing awareness about different forms of bullying;

✅ supporting coaches and educators in managing adolescent groups;

✅ developing practical tools and communication materials;

✅ promoting local activities and community involvement.

Another important part of the meeting was dedicated to coordination. The partners discussed the project timeline, the main phases of implementation and the responsibilities of each organisation. This helped create a shared understanding of the work to be done and of the role that each partner will play.

📌 The meeting also focused on the preparation of the upcoming Transnational Meeting. Partners started to define the materials, contents and organisational needs required to make the training activities effective and coherent with the project objectives. This preparation phase will be essential to develop the educational framework of BTBC and to guide the creation of the project deliverables.

The division of tasks was also discussed in detail. Each partner will contribute to the preparation of training contents, communication materials, local activities and dissemination actions. This collaborative approach will ensure that the project results are created through the direct involvement of all organisations and are based on different experiences and perspectives.

The kick off meeting was not only an administrative step. It was also the beginning of a shared commitment. Partners confirmed their willingness to work together to create practical resources that can support sport clubs, coaches, educators and youth workers in preventing bullying and promoting safe sport environments.

🌍 Through BTBC, the partners want to strengthen the educational role of sport and support young people in experiencing sport as a place of respect, inclusion and personal growth.

The online kick off meeting marked the official start of this journey. The next step will be the preparation of the training materials and the organisation of the transnational activities, where partners will continue working together to break the bully cycle.