Anti-Bullying Week starts now!

Today marks the beginning of Anti-Bullying Week, a campaign created to raise awareness of those who may be suffering from bullying. The aim is to highlight ways of identifying it, highlighting it, and responding to it.

With modern advancements in technology we have seen increased cases of bullying as young people and all people are connected more than ever before. Cyberbullying has become the most common form of bullying as social platforms allow people harass others, sometimes behind anonymity. However, more traditional cases of bullying are still prevalent and it is important for society to combat all cases.

Organised and coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) of England, the key aims are to:

• To empower children and young people to make a noise about bullying – whether it is happening to them or to someone else, face to face or online.
• To help parents and carers have conversations with their children about bullying – both as a way of preventing bullying, and to help children who are worried about bullying.
• To encourage ‘talking schools’ where all children and young people are given a safe space to discuss bullying and other issues that affect their lives, and are supported to report all forms of bullying.
• To equip teachers to respond effectively when children tell them they’re being bullied.
• To raise awareness of the impact of bullying on children’s lives if they don’t tell anyone it’s happening – or if they are not given appropriate support – with a focus on the impact on mental health.

So don’t forget to take part and do your best to ‘Make A Noise About Bullying’ this #antibullyingweek and learn more about the campaign here.