Media Response to NOTW first person piece – advertising launch

Comment by Emma-Jane Cross, CEO of Beatbullying

15 January 2010

“When Beatbullying launched its ‘You Can Speak Out Now’ campaign on Thursday one thousand children logged onto our site for help and support.

“This was the same day Clearcast publicly denounced the need for our advert and deemed it inappropriate.

“The great irony is that Clearcast has tried to stop us ‘speaking out’.

“Not only does this decision silence us as a charity; it silences the thousands of young CyberMentors who are trying to help children cope with bullying.

“We appreciate the support of Martin Neary of Barnardo when he said that ‘bullying makes the lives of so many children a misery and that banning this advert won’t change that’.

“If this advert means that just one more young person gets the vital support they need then we believe the ad’s moment, of what Clearcast feel, is disturbing imagery, is justified.

“We hoped TV space would help give our campaign an even bigger platform to raise debate about putting an end to bullying.

“Beatbullying is incredibly proud of its campaign and is grateful to our partners for donating for us their talents and media space.

“We are especially grateful to the generous support of Megan Gillan’s family, to whom this campaign is dedicated.

“We hope this campaign will un-stitch thousands of mouths and save the lives of children, like Megan, who need somewhere to turn to for help.”