Schools to 'demonstrate' against bullying
08.05.2008
Leading bullying prevention charity, Beatbullying, launches a new campaign to encourage everyone in the UK to stand up against bullying.
The charity launches a new advertising campaign with the help of Dame Kelly Holmes, National Lottery presenter and Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, Charley Boorman, and the London Wasps rugby team, who all appear in the advert to promote The Big Stand 2008.
The Big Stand campaign asks everyone in the UK to stand up at 10am on Thursday 22 May. This symbolic stand is to show defiance against bullying and solidarity with the millions of people across the country experiencing bullying. Individuals, schools and organisations can sign up to participate in The Big Stand 2008 at www.beatbullying.org/thebigstand, and receive a free pack on how to make the most of their stand.
Emma-Jane Cross, Chief Executive of Beatbullying said:
“We want this to be a major national demonstration taking part all across the country. In the last two years we have had millions of people take part in The Big Stand. This year we want it to be recognised as an anti-bullying movement.”
“Get your school or your workplace involved. Bullying is a universal issue, and anyone, regardless of their situation, can make the bold and important statement that they won’t tolerate bullying.
“There is something powerful about seeing hundreds, thousands and nationwide, millions of people, physically doing something together to say ‘we want to put an end to bullying now’. There’s no ignoring that.”
According to Beatbullying’s research, 55.5% of young people have been bullied and at least 20 children every year commit suicide because they are being bullied. Half of all school exclusions are in some way connected to bullying and 20,000 children and young people truant everyday because of bullying. Interesting finding also show that more than seven in 10 young people have bullied, quashing the notion of a small minority of bullies wielding power over a majority of victims.
However, it is not all bad news. Beatbullying’s unique prevention programmes are run in schools and communities all over the UK. The results show that Beatbullying’s programmes reduce incidents of bullying by an average of 39% in schools where a prevention model is active. In some instances, the charity effectively reduces bullying by up to 80%. Beatbullying’s prevention programmes are currently being rolled out nationwide by the Government in a groundbreaking pilot scheme, so every child in the UK can have a chance to avoid being bullied.
The Big Stand advertisement was made in partnership with the Media Trust.