All children, young people and adults have the right to learn, work and play in an environment where they feel safe and free from harassment and bullying.


What is bullying?

Bullying can mean different things. It can happen for lots of reasons including the way you look, your race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or academic ability. But no matter what the reason, bullying is wrong and is never deserved.

These are some of the ways children and young people have described bullying:

• being called names
• being teased
• being pushed or pulled about
• being hit or attacked
• being sent nasty text messages, SMS or emails
• having your bag and other possessions taken and thrown around
• having rumours spread about you
• being ignored and left out
• being forced to hand over money or possessions
• being threatened



INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
What should I do if I’m being bullied?

If you are being bullied, you can do something about it. You can make a difference!

• Tell an adult at home or at school (This may seem scary but it’s the best way to get the support you deserve)
• Keep a note or a diary of what is happening
• Don't give up, you’re not alone and it can get better
• Ask your parents to visit the school with you to talk through the problem with your teacher or head teacher
• Talk over what to do with a friend, a teacher, your mum or dad, someone you trust or you can talk to someone at the ChildLine number shown below

Remember that adults have to listen carefully when a child tells them about being bullied.

• Tell an adult at home or at school (This may seem scary but it’s the best way to get the support you deserve)
• Keep a note or a diary of what is happening
• Don't give up, you’re not alone and it can get better
• Ask your parents to visit the school with you to talk through the problem with your teacher or head teacher
• Talk over what to do with a friend, a teacher, your mum or dad, someone you trust or you can talk to someone at the ChildLine number shown below
Remember that adults have to listen carefully when a child tells them about being bullied.


What should I do if I see someone being bullied or I know someone who is?

Seeing someone being bullied can be scary and people can sometimes worry that if they get involved they might get bullied too but there are plenty of things that you can do to help. Only you will know what you feel confident doing and what is safe in that situation but here’s some things you could do:

• Tell an adult what is happening or encourage the person being bullied to tell someone. Offer to go with them to tell the person so they know you’re supporting them

• Walk away. Bullies often like to have an audience so if everyone walks away they may stop. It also shows everyone that you don’t agree with it

• Don’t join in. Sometimes people laugh when someone is being bullied or even join in (normally because they’re worried that they might be picked on if they don’t). Don’t be tempted though because joining in or laughing along is a type of bullying

• Don’t spread rumours or gossip. If you hear something about someone else that could hurt their feelings don’t pass it on
• Be a friend to the person who is being bullied. Let them know that you don’t agree with it, give them chances to talk to you about it, help them know they’re not alone and help them feel good about themselves

• Ask the person bullying to stop. You should only do this if you think it would be safe but it can be a really effective way to stop people bullying others

• Make sure the person isn’t left on their own. Bullies often target people who are on their own so you may want to offer to walk with them to lessons, ask them to eat lunch with you or play with you at playtime


Useful contacts

Phone numbers
*ChildLine – 0800 1111 – A free, confidential helpline for children and young people offering advice and support, by phone and online, 24 hours a day

*Connexions Direct - 080 800 13 2 19 - for young people aged 13-19. Calls from a landline are free and won't show on a phone bill. Calls from a mobile are charged but if you ring them they’ll call you back.

*EACH - 0808 1000 143 - a free phone helpline for children experiencing homophobic bullying. Open Monday to Friday 9am-4:30pm (out of hours - emails can be sent to eachaction who will then get back to you)

Websites

 Anti-Bullying Alliance – click ‘help and advice’ then ‘ children and young people’ for information, resources and advice relating to bullying
 Beatbullying – click ‘help’ then ‘help for young people’ for information on a range of bullying issues
 Cybermentors - a safe social networking site providing information and support for young people affected by bullying
 Family lives (previously parentline plus) - click ‘young people’ for advice on bullying especially cyberbullying
 Think U Know – click on your age at the top of the screen for information on internet safety and cyberbullying.



INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS
How can I tell if my child’s being bullied?

Children can sometimes be worried about telling an adult they are being bullied for fear that it might make it worse. You may however notice changes in their behaviour which suggest that your child is unhappy or worried about something and this could include bullying. Signs to look out for include:

• suddenly not wanting to go to school
• saying they feel sick on school mornings
• being more irritable, stressed or anxious than normal
• aggression towards you or others in your family
• bedwetting or waking in the night
• missing or damaged belongings/clothes
• unexplained bruises

What should I do if I think my child is being bullied?

If you think your child might be being bullied, don’t ignore it. Find a quiet time to talk to your child. Explain that bullying is unacceptable and that no one should have to put up with it. Promise to do all you can to stop it.
Make an appointment to see your child's class teacher as soon as possible. Useful tips for the meeting:

• Decide what you want to say and what you'd like to achieve from the meeting before you go
• Try to stay calm even though you may feel angry and emotional
• Don't blame the school staff - they may be unaware of the bullying
• Give specific examples of how your child is being bullied
• Where possible take your child with you as they know best what’s been going on and can then be part of the solution
• Ask for a copy of the school's anti-bullying policy
• Discuss what action the school will take
• Arrange to meet again within two weeks to discuss progress

If you're unhappy with the way your child's teacher deals with the situation - either at the meeting or after the school has taken action - make an appointment to see the head teacher and go through the same process described above. If this does not solve the issue however then every school will have a complaints procedure (normally kept in the school office) which will tell you what steps you can take next.

What should I do if my child is bullying others?
If you suspect your child is bullying another child or other children, don’t ignore it.

A child who is bullying others often has problems of their own. Try to understand what may be causing this behaviour and think about what is going on. Bullying can be subtle, so watch your child’s behaviour closely. Consider the following:

• Is your child going through a difficult time?
• Does your child feel overlooked or overshadowed?
• Could your child be copying someone else's behaviour - maybe an adult or older brother/sister at home?
• Do other family members use aggression or force to get what they want?
• Are you allowing your child to use aggression or force to get what they want from other people?

Make sure your child understands that bullying is unacceptable. Encourage your child to be friendly, understanding and kind to others by praising them when they do this. Try to encourage friendships by inviting other children over to your home but watch out for any signs of bullying.


Useful contacts

Phone numbers

*Family Lives (Parentline Plus) – 0808 8002222 – a free 24hr phone helpline for anyone caring for children (or textphone 0800 783 6783 for the deaf/hard of hearing)

*EACH - 0808 1000 143 - a free phone helpline providing support and signposting for parents of children who are experiencing homophobic bullying. Open Monday to Friday 9am-4:30pm (out of hours - emails can be sent to info@eachaction.org.uk who will then get back to you)


Websites

*Anti-Bullying alliance – www.Anti-Bullyingalliance.org.uk – click ‘help and advice’ then ‘parents and carers’ for information, resources and advice relating to bullying

*Beatbullying – – click ‘help’ then ‘help for parents and carers’ for information on a range of bullying issues

*Be someone to tell – www.besomeonetotell.org.uk – wide range of advice for parents

*Family lives (previously parentline plus) – - click ‘parents’ for a wide range of advice on frequently asked questions

*NSPCC – click ‘help and advice’ then ‘for parents and carers’ for a range of parenting advice including how to keep your child safe online

*Think U Know – click ‘parents and carers’ for Information on internet safety and cyberbullying.