Bullying is the repetitive, intentional harming of one person or a group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen anywhere (including online) at any time.
Anti-bullying week is coordinated by the Anti-bullying Alliance and this year took place between Monday 14th – Friday 18th November. The event aims to raise awareness of bullying of children and young people, in schools and elsewhere, and to highlight ways of preventing it. Each day different events and activities took place at The BHY launching with Odd Socks Day to show that everybody is different and that’s okay.
Research shows that last year 30% of school children were bullied with the impacts of this being both immediate and long-term. We want young people to be able to identify the early-signs of bullying so that they can intervene or report as soon as possible, but also recognise their own behaviour and the harm it might be causing others. During our sessions young people explored the different roles that take place within a bullying cycle (e.g. the bully, the target, the by-stander) to help individuals recognise where they might be and how they could make active change to put a stop to it.
The activities delivered during anti-bullying week, both locally and nationally, help to give children the articulation, and subsequently, confidence they need to speak-up about things happening in their lives which they aren’t comfortable with. Ultimately, the aim is to stop bullying and create a safer environment in which young people can live, grow, play and learn.
All the young people who participated in activities during the week made a solid pledge, which they affirmed by placing a painted handprint next to the words:
I will not use my hands for hitting or my words for hurting. I will only use them for helping.
Danielle Spencer, our Grange Park Team Leader, who is currently working towards her Level 7 Youth & Community Work Degree, said: “The biggest impact of the week was when we were exploring the way that bullying makes people feel and how much it can effect your life in terms of school grades, future employment, etc. Every child was willing to sign the pledge with their handprint, which was awesome!”.
With more than 140,000 downloads of the resources available from the Anti-Bullying Alliance website, we are proud to have played our small part and home we can help to eradicate bullying, and its effect, from our children’s lives.