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Your Council supporting learning for you and your family
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Putting a stop to bullying
Children, young people, and schools are joining forces to tackle bullying as Hull takes part in Anti-Bullying Week from 16 - 20 November
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Children and young people from the BOB and KEY anti-bullying groups |
Bullying can take many forms, from name calling and physical threats to a modern problem known as 'cyber bullying', where text messages, emails, and postings on websites are used to humiliate a victim.
It has been identified as one of the key concerns of young people in Hull, and members of Hull Young People's Parliament called for action to be taken on cyber bullying at one of its meetings earlier this year.
In some cases, young people who have previously been the victim of bullies are now taking part in creative projects to educate others in Hull about the damage bullying can cause.
"If you are being bullied you have to tell someone – don't suffer in silence," says Beth, 15, who was bullied at school but is now a member of the city's Bog Off Bullies (BOB) group.
"Bullies are often unhappy themselves and want to make others unhappy as well, but they should stop and think about how the victims feel."
Sources of help
Children and young people took part in an art competition to create a design for a badge to help keep children and young people safe.
The competition, backed by Hull Young People's Parliament and the Hull Safeguarding Children Board, was driven forward by the Keeping Safe Empowering Youth (KEY) Group, whose members had been victims of bullying.
"The badges are a great way to raise awareness of cyber bullying and we will be sending them to primary and secondary schools during Anti-Bullying Week," says Katie Roberts, a rights and participation officer with the Hull Safeguarding Children Board.
"There was a terrific response to the art competition last month and I would like to thank everyone who entered badge designs."
Members of the KEY group have also produced a cyber bullying DVD, aimed at primary school students, to send an anti-bullying message to pupils throughout Hull.
It is hoped the DVD will soon be placed on the Clued up in Hull children and young people's website, www.cluedupinhull.com.
Meanwhile, KEY and BOB group members are planning to work together to produce a DVD to educate secondary school pupils about cyber bullying, and a song has been written by KEY members on the subject of cyber relationships.
The song will be performed live at The Lamp on Norfolk Street as part of National Music Week on 9 November, starting at 6.30pm.
The KEY Group has also applied for a grant from the Youth Opportunity Fund to produce 40,000 'worry cards' on which children and young people can write down their experiences or concerns about bullying, gum the cards together for privacy, and post them or hand them in at schools, libraries, children's homes, youth centres, leisure centres, and other council buildings.
RAPP or the Community Anti-Bullying Project will respond and provide support to pupils who submit cards within four days of receipt.
Tips for tackling cyber bullies
- keep evidence of cyber bullying by saving messages and MSN conversations
- never retaliate or reply if you've been sent a nasty message.
Block the bully and report it to an adult you can trust
- report it – most websites and mobile phone operators have a place where you can report abuse
- always respect others – be careful what you say and what you send.
Messages and images can be made public and could stay online forever
- protect your online accounts and your mobile phone with a password – and don't share it with anyone
- tell a teacher or an adult you can trust
- call ChildLine on 0800 1111 or go to www.cybermentors.org.uk
Extra support
Parents, children, and young people up to the age of 16 can call the Community Anti-Bullying Project free and in confidence on 0800 915 4545.
Volunteers provide a listening ear and arrangements can be made for volunteers to visit callers in person to give further guidance on how to cope with and prevent bullying.
In addition, volunteers aged 14 and over are needed for a telephone helpline run by the BOB group to support victims of bullies.
Young people who have themselves been bullied in the past take calls on the helpline from 4-6pm every Wednesday.
To call the helpline in confidence, or to volunteer, call 225855.
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