15 November
2010
A significant number of
children and young people are being bullied on the journey to and
from school and need more support to help keep them safe, according
to new research released today (Monday 15th November) by
the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), based at NCB.
The survey*, unveiled for the start of Anti Bullying
Week 2010, reveals that 43% of 11 to 16 year olds
surveyed have witnessed another student being bullied on the
journey to or from school, with 1 in 10 suffering
themselves in the past year. This could potentially affect as many
as 370,000** 11 to 16 year olds in England.
Worryingly, the study also shows that
47% of those who have seen another student being
bullied in the past year did not report it, with
half of 13-16 year olds failing to do so.
Of those young people who didn’t report the bullying,
more than 4 out of 10 (44%) didn’t think it was
any of their business and 1 in 10 didn’t know who
to tell, with 7% unsure as to whether anyone would
take action if they did.
ABA, which is a coalition of more than 70
organisations, runs national Anti-Bullying Week, which starts today
(15th November). This year’s theme is ‘Taking action
together’ and ABA is encouraging collective responsibility for
stopping bullying wherever it takes place.
ABA Chair, Ross Hendry, said: "This
research shows us that a significant number of children and young
people in England are suffering from bullying on their school
journey. Whether they travel by bus, car, public transport of if
they walk to school we need to make sure they are protected.
Ross continued: It’s of great concern
that nearly half of young people who see others being bullied do
not report it and that such a large proportion don’t think its any
of their business to do so. As adults we need to work with schools
and communities to encourage young people to look out for each
other and to report bullying, safe in the knowledge that when they
do so, it will be dealt with quickly and appropriately.
Parents/carers, teachers and children and young people
all have a part to play in working together to create a society
where bullying is not tolerated. There are still schools, streets,
buses, playgrounds and homes where children do not feel safe from
bullying. Together we can take action to change this."
ABA offers the following advice for children/young people and
parents:
For children and young people
- Bullying is not your fault. It is always wrong and you
do not have to put up with it.
- Let someone know what is happening as soon as
possible. Talk things through with a friend, your family, or your
teachers.
- Do not do or say anything in response to the bully.
Stay calm and remove yourself from the situation wherever possible.
If it is happening through your phone or the internet, keep a copy
of the messages or images but do not reply or respond.
- Keep a note or a diary of what is happening.
- Be confident – you have done nothing to deserve
this.
- Be assertive.
- You could say ‘This is not funny. This is bullying.
This is wrong.’
- Think who can help you – young people or adults.
- Seek help from other young people e.g. school might
have a peer mentor or buddy scheme
- Say to someone ‘Please would you watch what is
happening here’ and ask them to help you report the incident.
- Sometimes it can help to talk to someone outside of the
situation. You could call Childline on 0800 11 11.
Help for Parents
- If you think your child is being bullied, don’t panic– try to
keep an open mind: Your key role is listening, calming and
providing reassurance that the situation can get better when action
is taken. Provide a quiet, calm place where they can talk about
what is happening.
- Listen and reassure them that coming to you was the right thing
to do: It may not be easy for a child to talk about being bullied
so it is important to try to find out how they are feeling, what
has happened, when and where. Though at this stage it is not so
much about establishing a set of facts as encouraging, talking and
listening.
- Assure them that the bullying is not their fault and that you
are there to support them: remind them that they can also have the
support of family and friends.
- Find out what the child or young person wants to happen: help
them to identify the choices available to them and the potential
next steps to take; and the skills they may have to help solve the
problems.
- Discuss the situation with your child’s school: the law
requires all schools to have a behaviour policy which sets out the
measures that will be taken to encourage good behaviour and respect
for others and to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.
Parents can get advice and support through Parentline Plus – 0808
800 2222
- about establishing a set of facts as encouraging,
talking and listening.
*Research conducted by TNS Omnibus, part of TNS-RI,
for ABA during October 2010, of 462 young people aged 11-16 in
England.
** Figure taken from ONS 2009 Population Estimates,
based on 3.7 million 11-16 year olds in England.
For further information on ABA and
Anti-Bullying Week 2010 please contact:
Anna Tombs, ABA Communications
Officer
07595 781 751
0207 843 6045
atombs@ncb.org.uk