Bullying UK

Bullying UK, formerly Bullying Online, is a UK charity founded in 1999 by journalist Liz Carnell and her son John. The charity's website was redesigned and relaunched in 2006 with a large amount of new information to help pupils, parents and schools deal with bullying.

Website

Pupils can find help on dealing with violence and name calling, homophobia, racism, hi-tech bullying like happy slapping, text bullying by phone and abusive websites, self harm, falling out with friends, bullying on the school bus and walk to school, body language, how to help someone being bullied and moving to a new school. There is also advice for pupils who are bullies.

Parents can find help on taking a complaint through the education system, from the classroom teacher, head teacher or principal, governors, LEA (Local Education Authority) and DfES (Department for Education and Skills). There are sections for parents dealing with hi-tech bullying, including abusive internet website postings, racism, bullying in independent or private schools, bullying out of school, moving a child to a new school, access to pupil records, teacher bullying and legal action. A well-used part of the website is the section containing letters for parents to copy out to start a complaint to a school.

The schools' section has been expanded recently and includes advice on dealing with bullying victims, bullies and parents and ideas for school projects. There is a large section about bullying in sport. The sections include information and advice for school ancillary workers like teaching assistants, dinner ladies and school nurses.

Help is given by email through the contact section of the website and leaflets and posters are also available to schools, police forces, health trusts and youth organisations.

Awards

Bullying Online has won many national awards, including the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award 2005, [cite web
url = http://www.prideofbritain.com/winners/2005/tm_objectid=16277712%26method=full%26siteid=111217-name_page.html
title = Pride of Britain Awards 2005 - The Winners - 2005
accessdate = 2006-06-25] the St George's Day Modern Hero Award 2006, [cite web
url = http://www.beefyandlamby.co.uk/george/john.html
title = Nominate your Local Hero
accessdate = 2006-06-25] the Big Issue Big Difference Award 2004, [cite news
url = http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/awards/040407liz.shtml
title = Award for sub-editor who makes a 'Big Difference'
publisher = HoldTheFrontPage.co.uk
accessdate = 2006-06-25
date = 2004-4-7] the Digital Inclusion category in SustainIT's 2003 National eWell-Being Awards, [cite web
url = http://www.sustainit.org/ewell-being-awards/2003-awards.php
title = eWell Being Awards - 2003
accessdate = 2006-06-25] and the regional finals of the National E-Commerce Awards in 2002 [cite web
url = http://www.ecommerce-awards.co.uk/past_winners/winners_2002.html
title = ecommerce-awards - past winners 2002
accessdate = 2006-06-25] and 2003. [cite news
author = Liza Ramrayka
url = http://society.guardian.co.uk/internet/story/0,,749250,00.html
title = Children's theatre scoops charity internet award
publisher = Guardian Unlimited
date = 2002-07-04
accessdate = 2006-06-25] The charity was also a finalist in the Guardian Charity Awards 2004 [cite web
url = http://www.smartchange.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=22
title = smartchange - Guardian Charity Awards 2003: Shortlisted Entries
accessdate = 2006-06-25] and 2005,cite web
url = http://www.bullying.co.uk/about/awards.php
title = About Media Contacts Press TV radio Bullying Online The UK's #1 Bullying Resource
accessdate = 2006-08-31] and highly commended in the Camelot Oyster Awards 2002, ITV's Britain on the Move Awards 2005,Fact|date=February 2007 the Broadband Britain Challenge 2003 and the New Statesman/BT New Media Awards 2001. [cite web
url = http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/news/2001/online/010716bull.shtml
title = Bullying resource bids for award: Regional Journalism in the UK on the Internet. www.HoldTheFrontPage.co.uk
accessdate = 2006-06-24
date = 2001-07-16]

Public profile

The charity has a high public profile, and was mentioned by Phil Willis MP in the UK Parliament as being in the vanguard of anti-bullying work. [cite web
url = http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo041213/debtext/41213-05.htm
title = House of Commons Hansard Debates for 13 Dec 2004 (pt 5)
accessdate = 2006-06-25
date = 2004-12-13] It has also been featured widely in the UK national media, particularly in newspapers like the Daily Mirror, [cite news
url = http://www.mirror.co.uk/sexandhealth/kids/tm_objectid=16563336%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
title = The Bullies Can't Hurt Laura Any More
publisher = The Mirror
date = 2006-01-09
accessdate = 2006-06-25] BBC, [cite news
author =
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4135988.stm
title = Bully 'unsuitable theme' for game
publisher = BBC News
date = 2005-10-10
accessdate = 2006-06-25] The Times [cite news
author = Geraldine Hackett and Ed Habershon
coauthors = Sally Jones
url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1903043,00.html
title = School bullies target pupil weblogs
publisher = The Sunday Times
date = 2005-12-04
accessdate = 2006-06-25] and The Independent. [cite news
url = http://education.independent.co.uk/schools/article305023.ece
title = Bullying: 'She was in tears every day'
publisher = The Independent
date = 2005-08-11
accessdate = 2006-06-25] The charity has been an outspoken critic of government anti-bullying work, [cite news
author = Ned Temko
url = http://education.guardian.co.uk/bullying/story/0,,1558001,00.html
title = Anti-bullying protests force policy U-turn
publisher = The Observer
date = 2005-08-28
accessdate = 2006-06-25] including the taxpayers' funding of the controversial Anti-Bullying Alliance. [cite news
author = Lucy Ward
url = http://education.guardian.co.uk/bullying/story/0,,1485132,00.html
title = Losing the plot
publisher = The Guardian
date = 2005-05-17
accessdate = 2006-06-25] Director Liz Carnell is a regular contributor to TV and radio debates on school bullying and also writes for the national media like the Times Educational Supplement on school bullying issues. [cite news
author = Liz Carnell
url = http://www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2081049
title = How to beat 'em
publisher = Times Educational Supplement
date = 2005-03-11
accessdate = 2006-06-25]

In January 2006 the charity launched [http://www.thenationalsurvey.co.uk The National Bullying Survey 2006] . More than 8,000 people have completed one of four sections of the survey, for parents, pupils, teachers and older people who were bullied at school. The survey is now closed, and the results were announced in November 2006.

Funding

Bullying Online provides a free service. Recent funders have included Simplyhealth, GE Money and Royal Mail. Individuals and schools are encouraged to carry out fundraising to support the charity’s work.

References

External links

* [http://www.bullying.co.uk Official website]
*UK charity|1120107
* [http://www.thenationalsurvey.co.uk The National Bullying Survey 2006]
* [http://www.webwisekids.org Web Wise kids - A national non-profit helping teach youth to be their own first line of defense]