One Direction continues to leverage its global reach to spark positive change. In partnership with the Office Depot Foundation, the band champions Be The Difference. Speak Up Against Bullying, a program designed to travel through middle schools across the United States during the school year. It delivers practical lessons on choosing kindness even when peers are unkind and on building the courage to report bullying when it happens. The aim is to help students, teachers, and families foster a safer, more inclusive climate in classrooms and hallways, both in person and online. Local educators work with the program to adapt materials to the needs of their communities, ensuring messages resonate with diverse student groups while aligning with state and district anti-bullying policies.
To sustain the effort, One Direction introduced a limited edition line of school supplies sold exclusively through Office Depot. Proceeds fund Be The Difference, expanding its reach to more schools and more students. The product range, while described as stylish and collectible, emphasizes practical items for daily school life such as notebooks, folders, planners, and basic supplies. By linking fashion with philanthropy, the collaboration creates a visible reminder of the message while providing tangible tools for classrooms to use in lessons about respect and reporting. The items are designed for durability and ease of use, with colors and motifs that speak to students without becoming distractions in the learning environment.
On social media the band has urged fans to rally around the cause using the Together hashtag. Directioners have posted anti-bullying images and messages featuring the campaign products on Twitter and Instagram. Office Depot created a dedicated page on its site to display noteworthy posts from fans, turning the campaign into a living, crowd-sourced photo album that reinforces the message and expands the campaign’s reach across communities and ages. The initiative invites ongoing participation while maintaining guardrails to protect participants and ensure respectful content.
Leading the traveling program is Brooks Gibbs, a youth crisis counselor known for his practical, no-nonsense approach to bullying prevention. Gibbs speaks to students, teachers, parents, and school leaders, sharing strategies to support bullied students, intervene safely, and engage peers in standing up for one another. A central message reworks the Golden Rule for modern schools: treat everyone like a friend, even those who act as enemies. The emphasis is on empathy, clear reporting channels, and ongoing support for victims and bystanders alike. The program emphasizes peer mentoring, bystander intervention, and actionable steps that teachers and administrators can implement to create a safer school culture.
While One Direction remains focused on concert schedules and global touring, the live presentations are enhanced with video footage of the band that students can relate to, ensuring the message remains personal even when the musicians cannot be on site. The integrated media helps teachers frame discussions, draw on real examples, and reinforce key points about kindness, reporting, and accountability. In addition to live talks, many sessions include digital resources, interactive activities, and guided discussions that connect the lessons to classroom routines, homework prompts, and school-wide events.
An accompanying video public service announcement from One Direction is available for viewing, offering a concise call to action for respectful behavior in school and on social media. Educators and families can use the PSA as a supplement to classroom activities, assemblies, and parent-teacher conversations, reinforcing the idea that small acts of courage can change a school climate for the better. The Be The Difference program invites ongoing involvement from communities, highlighting the enduring value of kindness and responsibility in young people.