ABOUT US

We are the UK's only bullying helpline for both adults and children - for bullying in the community, home, the workplace and the playground.

CYBER BULLYING is 'any form of bullying that is carried out using technology', including bully-blogging and happy-slapping. Don't use your mobile or the internet to undermine or bully another person - it's not clever! It is a crime in fact! More and more cases are being reported to us at The National Bullying Helpline affecting both adults and children - in the workplace and in the community.

THE POWER OF A HELPLINE: During November 2009 a mother called the helpline regarding concerns relating to her 6 year old son. The call triggered a Police investigation, initiated by us. Subsequently, 4 young children were identified as being at risk of sexual abuse and those children are now receiving the support they need. They are now safe! That is the power of just one call to our helpline. In another recent case a 12 year old girl emailed us a 'suicide note' in which she alleged she had been raped. We triggered the emergency services and we are pleased to report that this girl is now safe!

25 AUGUST 2009 - 2010: Swindon Wildcats (Ice Hockey Team) Adopt The National Bullying Helpline Charity for the 2009/10 season. Fixtures details below/right. The Swindon Wildcats (Ice Hockey team) are a truly community orientated sports club and they are working with schools and kids across Swindon; through roadshows and in respect of their 'learn to skate' programme. They are also supporting The National Bullying Helpline Charity as part of their school visits programme and through a fund-raising initiative for the Charity. Anyone struggling with bullying issues should eat well and exercise regularly. These are two important messages The Swindon Wildcats and The National Bullying Helpline Charity want to promote across Wiltshire schools in tech run up to National Ban Bullying week : 16 -20 November 2009. For more information contact us or see www.swindonwildcats.com

POLICE SERVICE AGREEMENT: Ultimately, we deal with cases of discrimination and harassment - but disturbing cases of physical bullying, such as assault or even sexual abuse are also being reported to us. We have established a Service Agreement with Wiltshire Police and we work closely with them where adults or children are considered to be at risk. Call us for details.

SPONSORSHIP: Swindon Wildcats have adopted us as their charity for the 2009/2010 season. Swindon Wildcats (Ice Hockey) want to work closely with us to help us raise awareness. Together, Willie Wildcat (their mascot) and The National Bullying Helpline are partnering to visit in excess of 30 schools in Wiltshire. Recently we have visited Peatmore, Gorse Hill infants, Holy Rood Junior, Fynamore and St Bartholomews, Lainsmead Primary, Swindon New College, Eldene Primary and St Joseph’s Catholic School – where 11 schools gathered as part of an anti-bullying event to mark National Ban Bullying week. Well done St Joseph’s !

Other activities include projects that employers, nationally, have organised to celebrate this important anniversary; such as dress-down-days and fund-raising events for us.

Swindon Borough Council launched an Anti Bullying Vision , chaired by Christine Pratt of The National Bullying Helpline, in consultation with organisations that work with young people and their families. Our new Vision sets out the 7 main principles considered essential when combating bullying amongst children. If you would like to know more please contact us at admin@nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk

Thank you for your support and keep in touch.

From all of us at The National Bullying Helpline.

The only helpline in the UK that assists both adults and children !

 

ANNUALLY

7 NOVEMBER: NATIONAL BAN BULLYING AT WORK DAY. Each year we have marked the day in memory of Andrea Adams and Tim Field and all those who have dedicated their lives to eliminating workplace bullying. Please consider organising an event at work during this period. Call us for ideas. Thank you.

SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER: NAITONAL BAN BULLYING WEEK. This is an annual event. We are organising a lot of events this year. Please contact us if you would like to get involved. Thank you.

2009 EVENTS

19 SEPTEMBER: Lawyers and Charities call for radical changes in law to address bullying - particularly in schools. The National Bullying Helpline say; An Anti-Bullying Policy is not enough as often it is just a paperwork exercise. The burden of proof should not be on the parent alone to prove their child is a target of bullying - there needs to be a shared 'common sense' approach. A parent should not report individual cases to the class teacher - as, very often, the class teacher become defensive and this creates more conflict and distress!!

A firm Government stance is now required. A Government Directive or Code of Practice is needed (similar to the ACAS Code of Conduct in the workplace). Anti bullying Codes of Conduct should be visible to parents and teachers. Regulators and proper registration processes should be in place and cases recorded, statistically, and analysed. There should be a team of collectively appointed mentors and harassment buddies in every school comprising of both teachers and parents. There needs to be regular reviews of cases, outcomes and lessons learnt. There should also be mandatory education in schools for children on coping mechanisms and independent arbitrators, investigators and mediators - funded by the Government. NB: It would be good also if we stopped calling targets of bullying 'victims'. A child should not be encouraged to think of himself/herself as 'a victim'.

April 2009 : THE ANNE FRANK STORY. In April 2009 Swindon Borough Council promoted the Anne Frank Story across Schools and Colleges in Wiltshire to educate children about the importance of anti-bullying and discrimination issues. The National Bullying Helpline played a major role in this initiative.

7 March 2009 : THE TV SHOW CHANNEL 4. Christine Pratt, CEO of The National Bullying Helpline appeared on The TV Show, Channel 4, 7th March 2009. A panel debated complaints submitted to Channel 4 following the 4 part 'Boys & Girls Alone' documentary. We say these children in this documentary were NOT placed at risk at all, that they were very well supervised and that the experience is unlikely to cause the children to suffer long-term psychological damage. Expert Child Psychologists disagree and allege that these children have been exploited. If anyone believes that the children appearing in the Boys & Girls series were bullied, or that the spats that occurred were not appropriately 'nipped in the bud' and addressed - we would invite you to come and spend just half a day at our call centre in Wiltshire. Consider the experience at our call centre as part of your CPD (personal development training). You will find the experience truly enlightening.

• The effects of Bullying & Harassment
• The cost to the business
• The cost to society and
• The cost to the individual.

17th to 21st NOVEMBER 2008: NATIONAL BAN BULLYING WEEK Our most important message for 2008 was that we are no longer just a workplace bullying helpline. For a number of years we have received calls from parents, children and individuals bullied in the community. We provide FREE practical and timely support to those who need it. So, we decided to do something about it. We diversified. The National Bullying Helpline is the first, national, Charity which addresses bullying in both the playground and the workplace. From November 2008 The National Bullying Helpline became, officially, a ‘one stop' helpline. Whether you are being bullied at school, in the community or in the workplace we can help. NOVEMBER 2008: POSTER COMPETITION Thomson's Local sponsored a Post Competition for schools, which took place across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset. More details to follow. OUR MESSAGE FOR NOVEMBER 2008 WAS:“ITS COOL TO CRI” CONFRONT, RECORD and INFORM CONFRONT – Confront the bully. Tell the bully to STOP. Tell the bully that you are upset about they way they have behaved. RECORD – Record the things that upset you in a diary. Keep a record of all the small things that upset you. If you don't want to talk to someone, write a story about what is happening in your life and hand it to your teacher or to a trusted friend. INFORM – Inform an adult or your mum or dad. Tell an adult that you are being bullied. Tell a teacher. Tell your friends. Tell someone that you are upset and tell them why. There is something else you can do if you are being bullied. You can call The National Bullying Helpline on 0845 22 55 787.  Remember.  There is no place for bullies in our Society today. Thank you .  HELP US HELP YOU HELP OTHERS Send a small donation to The National Bullying Helpline at; 15 Dorcan Business Village, Murdock Road, Swindon. SN3 5HY. Your donation will help with our running and utility costs. Our offices have been donated. None of our Directors or Volunteers draw a salary.

The Charity Launch The Charity Launch - House of Commons 25 April 2007 On 25 April 2007 more than 120 Employers and Business Representatives gathered at the House of Commons for the launch of the National Bullying Helpline. Speakers included Professor Gary Cooper and Gavin Jones Chief Executive Swindon Borough Council, and Co-Founder of the National Bullying Helpline Christine Pratt FCIPD “It was very interesting as many of the attendees agreed they had either experienced or at least observed bullying in the workplace at some time in their career” said David Pratt. The publicity surrounding the event attracted more than 200 enquiries to the website and more than 300 calls to the Helpline.  “This demonstrates the very clear need for a Helpline” said Christine  “and how we must now attract sponsorship to enable us to deal with these enquiries in a timely manner”. Email us for a copy of The Feather Story at admin@nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk

Updated 13-08-2010

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