National Anti-Bullying week 16-20 November 2009

Kevin, Equality Monitoring Manager

National Anti-Bullying Week 16-20 November 2009

Kevin, Equality Monitoring Manager,
16 Nov 2009

This week is National Anti-Bullying Week and I want to make people aware what it is all about.

Anti-Bullying Week highlights and tackles issues that can have a huge effect on people’s lives - issues such as harassment, racism, sexism and many more.

Last year at London 2012 I ran some workshops on how to recognise and challenge bullying and harassment. I am proud that London 2012 takes bullying seriously and is setting a standard for other companies and organisations - especially since London is so multicultural and diverse.

The reason I ran the workshops is because I am passionate about driving such behaviour out of the workplace. This all stems from my experiences in a previous job. I worked in a team of ten or so people and my best friend was being bullied by others because he was gay.

I really didn’t do enough to stop it. I didn’t go along with what other people did (things like trashing his locker and making him do menial jobs) but I didn’t challenge the others either.

One day, he didn’t come to work on a Monday morning, which was unusual for him. I tried to call him but there was no reply so I rang his parents. You can imagine how I felt when his father called me to say he had gone to my friend’s flat and found that his son had taken his own life.

So whenever Anti-Bullying Week comes around, I always try and make my story known so that anyone who might be involved in bullying will think again and take action to put a stop to it.

If you are being bullied:

  • Get advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau or a bullying helpline.
  • If you are able, tell the person to stop whatever it is they are doing that causes you distress, as they might be unaware of its effects – you might want to ask someone else to act on your behalf. Talk to colleagues to find out if anyone else is suffering or has witnessed what has happened to you. 
  • See someone who you feel comfortable with to discuss the problem, perhaps someone in your HR department at work or a counsellor. 
  • Talk to your trade union or staff representative. 
  • Keep a diary of all incidents: record details like dates, times, witnesses, your feelings, and so on. 
  • Keep copies of anything relevant, such as letters, memos, emails, notes of meetings. 
  • Inform your employer of any medical help you need.    

For more information, please visit the Bullying UK website.

3 Comments on this post
17 November 2009, Josie said:

HiNational Anti Bullying week is so important. I experienced bullying as a disabled person in a mainstream school. I love sport but never got the chance to participate because of my disability. Teachers didnt include me and to be honest the other kids didnt want me, as I was in a wheelchair. I was always the last pick. I had a choice and stayed in school and did my homework or helped the office staff.The Paralympics and disability sport inclusion programmes available to school children today create many opportunities. If you ever see disabled young people being bullied for their limited physical ability, please do your best to make sure they are included. I would hate to think that thirty years on that disabled people in sport were still being bullied.Anti bullying is not a one week programme it shoule be something we stop everyday. Fantastic campaign that needs everyones supportJosie CichockyjParalympian

19 November 2009, Positve Parents said:

I know first hand how destructive, painful and frightening bullying can be as I was bullied, and developed alopecia, when I first started at my secondary school aged 11.As a result of this through my work I am passionate about helping parents, support, nurture and champion your child if they find themselves in this very distressing position.It is frightening to think that the latest research shows that more than half of all children are, at least on tne occasion directly involved in bullying either as a perpetrator, victim And many of those who are not directly involved witness others being bullied on a regular basis. No child is untouched by bullying as children of every race, gender, social background or economic sector are affected at some time in their lives; and the sad reality is a campaign even on a national basis for just one week will only touch the tip of the iceberg.But it doesn’t have to be this way. As parents we have the power to help reduce bullying. Sue AtkinsFounder of Positive Parents

20 November 2009, Oliver Chettle said:

The Olympics should not have an "Equality Monitoring Manager" because they are supposed to be a festival of sport, not a festival of political correctness. I am sick and tired of seeing the anti-bullying debate hijacked by the left with this pretence that bullying is about the absence of political correctness on the part of some sections of the public. The reality is that most victims of bullying in this country (and I was one of them) are white and heterosexual, and most of the bullying is carried out by members of the same gender and has nothing to do with sexism. Bullying is about not treating individuals fairly and with due consideration. People who believe in multiculturalism are just as likely to be bullies as anyone else, because multiculturalism is not about treating individuals fairly, but rather about tagging people on the basis of their race and treating them according the prejudices of the politically correct.

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