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A breathtaking, technicoloured herd of anti-bullying elephants stampeded into the MBF's national conference in London.

STOMP, ELEFRIEND, PASHMINA, RAINBOW and BILLY THE BULLYPHANT were just some of 15 amazing elephant sculptures rubbing shoulders with Angela Smith (Minister for the Third Sector), David Burrowes (Shadow Minister for Justice), Anthony Hughes (Deputy Director of Activities and Engagement Division, DCSF) and the conference delegates.

Created in schools from across England, today was the first time the elephants had ever stood together as a national art exhibition - to be revealed to the public at the Saatchi Gallery in London next week for the launch of Anti-Bullying Week (16th - 20th November 2009).

Over the course of the day, through a series of workshops and seminars, the conference explored the value and impact of one-to-one support through mentoring and befriending.

Following a keynote speech, MP Angela Smith was interviewed by four 'Radiowaves' peer mentors who are launching an online anti-bullying club next week. Students Michael Omojudi and Temitayo Shittu from St Thomas More joined Amy Dutch and Isabella Perales from Bishop Thomas Grant to ask the minister about her own experiences of mentoring and befriending. She told them:

"I have seen the difference mentors and befrienders make within communities ... it helps people in so many different ways - most importantly by giving people new confidence and new strength. With mentoring and befriending you really can turn lives around and make a huge difference."

When asked to write two words summarising mentoring and befriending to stick onto the 'Mother' elephant, the minister chose 'empathy' and 'understanding'.

All delegates then followed suit - together creating a united picture of words that summarised mentoring and befriending for them 'support' ... 'listening' ... 'motivating' ... 'life line' ...

In total, more than 250 mentoring and befriending policy makers, funders, practitioners, commissioners and leaders attended the conference. Commented conference speaker Jerry Glover MBE (Chief Executive of renowned Bolton Lads and Girls Club and new North West charity OnSide):

"It has been an inspirational day - we've heard from a number of ground-breaking projects creating fantastic results across communities through mentoring, befriending and one-to-one support... but I'm actually wondering if these elephants haven’t stolen the show today - representing the thoughts and hopes of peer mentors from across the UK sharing one common vision - a united world without bullying."

The national art exhibition 'An Elephant in the Room' will be on display at The Saatchi Gallery throughout national anti-bullying week and until January 2010.