Organisations That Can Help You If You Are Being Bullied

Bullying can have a detrimental effect on students and adults. It affects the physical and mental health, wellbeing and learning. It can often leave long-term problems and concerns, where therapy may be needed.  

In the previous articles we’ve discussed the different types of bullying that can occur in your life and the effects of Covid-19 on bullying. This article is about the organisations that can help you if you are being bullied. Some of the well-known ones include:

Anti-Bullying Alliance is a coalition of organisations and individuals, working together to stop bullying and to create safer environments for children and young adults. The three main areas of focus of ABA are to support learning and sharing practice through membership, to raise awareness of bullying through Anti-Bullying Week and other campaigns, and to deliver programme work at a national and local level to stop bullying and make a lasting change in people’s lives. Anti-Bullying Alliance works towards those goals by encouraging research and evaluation into bullying to identify what works, collecting and sharing effective practice, supporting new developments and innovations, information sharing through membership and developing resources for schools and other organisations that work with children and young people.

BulliesOut offers e-mentoring support and provides innovative and interactive anti-bullying workshops and training programmes that are developed to reduce bullying in schools and the workplace. The organisation’s aims are to change attitudes and behaviours, recognise and respect difference, understand impact and consequences and raise confidence and self-esteem. They deliver youth engagement programmes that encourage young people to take a stand against bullying and make a difference in their communities. They also work with parents, professionals and educators to help them understand the different dynamics of bullying behaviour and how best to deal with it in their environment. If you are being bullied or are concerned about someone who is, you can receive help and support from one of the BulliesOut trained Mentors through their e-mentoring service. If you would like a Mentor to email you, contact: mentorsonline@bulliesout.com If you would rather speak to someone over the telephone, call ChildLine on: 0800 1111 

Act Against Bullying is an organisation that aims to help those who suffer from bullying, their families, their teachers and their friends. However, unlike some of the other organisations, Act Against Bullying not only focuses on helping the victims of bullying but they also focus on helping the bullies on their journey to change and stop bullying their peers. The organisation believes that bullying is caused by an inner problem of an individual who bullies, because no one bullies when they are happy with themselves. The bullies may also need support to be able to change their damaging behaviours. If you need advice on bullying, whether you are being personally affected by bullying or are a witness of someone else being bullied, send an email to info@actagainstbullying.org.

StandUp Foundation The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation is the world's first foundation dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying by connecting communities and raising funds to support those doing real-world work to eradicate bullying. They support organisations and projects that help stop bullying, help those hurt by bullying and help increase equality and diversity. This includes working with over 43 charities and organisations. They raise funds for these organisations through holding fundraising events and by receiving donations from individuals from their fundraising efforts. They also receive support from corporate organisations by working in collaboration to help them achieve their citizenship aims of supporting communities. This support has enabled the StandUp Foundation to make grants to a growing number of organisations that are taking action against bullying across a broad spectrum of areas including schools, online, in the workplace, amongst the LGBT community and in sport. Their main goal is to help connect communities to create a world of tolerance, understanding and kindness.

National Bullying Helpline (reopening end of November) is a nationally recognised anti-bullying advice centre. The helpline was founded in 2003 and was the very first UK helpline which provided assistance to individuals struggling with bullying issues. The helpline is established by qualified employment law professionals, providing operational, timely, support to both adults and children – whether the bullying is in the home, the community, the playground, the workplace or online (cyberbullying). Between 2007 and 2011 the helpline was launched as The National Bullying Helpline and became a registered Charity. In 2012 the National Bullying Helpline became a Voluntary Organisation and ceased to operate as a charity. If you are worried or frightened, or if the bullying is causing you to feel sad, call the helpline. Helpline: 0300 323 0169, Telephone: 0845 225 5787. Open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (reopening end of November).

Children who are victims of bullying in school may find it helpful to talk to their school counsellor. The school counsellor may be able to act as an advocate for them at school, check on their mental well-being and boost their self-esteem.

Whether you are currently being bullied or have been bullied in the past, many people find counselling helpful. Bullying may have affected you at an earlier time in your life, but it may have been a factor in developing other issues such as anxiety, depression or low self-esteem. A therapist can help you explore what is happening and your responses, in private and without judgement. Therapy can help victims of bullying notice, share and process painful feelings, which left unattended can negatively impact one's personal well-being.