Bullying

Talk to parents, family, friends, teachers, sport or activity leaders. Share your thoughts and feelings with people you are comfortable with, who will listen to you in a safe place.

If you want to talk to someone that doesn't know you, there are organisations that can help.

Childline

Call 0800 1111 you’ll get through to a counsellor, they’re there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about. You can also chat to a 1-2-1 counsellor online or sign up to Message Board where you can safely discuss things with others in similar situations.

NSPCC Helpline

call 0808 800 5000 and speak to someone in confidence

National Bullying helpline

call 0300 323 0169 or 0845 225 5787  ( 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)

Young Minds

Advice on how you can tell someone and get help

Bullying at school

some forms of bullying are illegal and should be reported to the police.

Kidscape

ZAP Community workshops are free assertiveness workshops for young people aged 9-16 and their parents and carers

Bullying Advice

Family Lives advice, information and resources on bullying

Samaritans

Call 116 123 for free and talk to someone in confidence

Anti-bullying Alliance

organisations united against bullying

Top tips to cope with bullying

• Talk to someone you trust about what is happening to you 
• If you don't want to talk to parents, family members, teachers contact Childline and talk in confidence to a trained counsellor
• Try to have a "safe space" where you can relax and feel safe. Do an activity or sport where you can be yourself and be with others who boost your confidence and self esteem. Hang out with friends that like you and want to be with you.
• Call out bullies and bullying. Report any type of bullying, anything that happens physically and online.
• If you experience any form of abuse around your gender, sexuality, skin colour, disability, or faith this is a hate crime and is against the law. You must report any hate crime to the police.

Signs of bullying

• belongings getting 'lost' or damaged
• physical injuries, such as unexplained bruises
• being afraid to go to school, being mysteriously 'ill' each morning, or skipping school
• not doing as well at school
• asking for, or stealing, money (to give to whoever's bullying them)
• being nervous, losing confidence, or becoming distressed and withdrawn
• problems with eating or sleeping
• bullying others.

Bullying at School

Tips on talking to teachers to get the bullying to stop, template letters, how to support your child if bullies have taken their friends away, moving schools and more. 

My child is bullying

Children can sometimes behave in a way that hurts others, either physically or emotionally. Getting your child to understand that certain behaviours are not acceptable is important.

They may not realise their behaviour has upset someone or that they are bullying.

Top tips if your child is bullying

• Explain that what they are doing or saying is upsetting and talk through how people feel when they are bullied.
• Tell them their behaviour is unacceptable
• Talk about when they have felt unhappy or sad and help them realise this is how they are making someone else feel with their behaviour
• Explain what can happen if their behaviour continues, talking to their teacher, sanctioning them in some way
• Ask them if they have any questions about bullying and why their behaviour has to change

Kidscape Help with bullying

advice on what makes a good friend.

Friends should make you happy and feel good about yourself

They say nice things about you

They are positive and happy about what you do and say

They support you and try to help you

They listen to you and don't interrupt you when you are talking

They are intersted in what you say

They accept you for who you are

Your beliefs, your values, your interests

They won't share things you say in private

They don't talk about you behind your back

You can rely on a good friend

Good friends make each other feel great

Having more than one good friend is important

Don't limit yourself to one "best friend"

You only need a small circle of friends

Followers on social media are not always friends

Making friends can be challenging

Join a club or society

Enjoy sport or activities with others

Volunteer in the community or at school

Introduce yourself to new people at school

Being yourself in a friendship is important, so if somone is pressuring you to be someone you are not, end the friendship.

Be positive and remember good friendships will take time to develop but that's okay.