High profile for Anti-Bullying Week

The first ever Anti-Bullying Week of Action was launched this
week by schools minister Stephen Twigg, and has successfully
recruited national newspapers, magazines and radio stations to
campaign against bullying in schools.

“BBC Radio One is spearheading a Beat Bullying campaign, with
the support of DJs and pop stars. It is encouraging listeners to
wear a special anti-bullying wristband, and demand has been so
great that they have run out of supplies. The Sun newspaper
yesterday ran a double page feature on school bullying.”

Anti-Bullying week is backed  by the Anti-Bullying Alliance
– an alliance of more than 50 organisations which are running
events in schools and communities around the country.

School heads and governors have been invited to adopt an
anti-bullying charter, in which they commit the whole school
community to create a culture in which bullying is actively
tackled.

But the government has stopped short of proposals to inspect
schools on their record on bullying, and to pronounce them
“failing” if they do not keep their pupils safe from
bullying.

Last week the charity Parentline Plus called for more support
for the families of children who bully. The charity said parents
who called their help line about their children’s bullying
were often at the end of their tether and feel they have no control
over their children.

Visit Radio 1’s One Life web site at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife

For more information about Anti-Bullyiing Week go to the
Anti-Bullying Alliance web site at www.ncb.org.uk/aba