East Antrim schools urged to take part in Anti-Bullying Week 2020

Now in its 11th year, it will run from November 16-20 and employ a new theme for 2020 - ‘United Against Bullying’, which has been inspired by the cohesiveness of society during the Covid-19 outbreak.

And, despite new restrictions put in place to limit the spread of Coronavirus, the week will still be jam-packed with online resources, activities, campaigns and more.

Anti-Bullying Week is coordinated by the Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF) and supported by Translink and Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI). Collectively, the member organisations and sponsors will encourage children and young people to join their classmates in celebrating their differences by embracing an Odd Socks Day to kick off the week on Monda, November 16.

A creative competition will also join the line up during the week, urging children to tap into their imaginations and get artistic, while a host of school resources, a social media toolkit detailing ways to get involved, and much more will aim to ensure the week sends a message loud and clear that bullying has no place in our society.

Deirdre McAliskey, Assistant Director at the National Children’s Bureau, hosts of the NIABF and organisers of Anti-Bullying Week, said: “We want children and young people to parents, carers, teachers and politicians to all play a role in uniting against bullying. This is everyone’s business, not just those directly affected.”

Gillian Cuthbert, Chair of NIABF, said: “United Against Bullying is a very apt theme for this year’s event and despite everything that’s going on around us, we feel it is more important than ever to be consistent with our efforts to erase bullying. This year’s Anti Bullying Week will feature a range of campaigns including Odd Socks Day. This will be a great initiative to allow children to embrace their differences and have discussions about being unique and how we all play a part in solving this puzzle. It’s also a simple campaign that doesn’t put pressure on families and children to spend on expensive fancy dress costumes or something new, just don two mismatched socks and think how our differences make us special.”

Translink will once again support the campaign by delivering key messages around the theme of respect in stations, on buses and on trains.

To download a free Anti-Bullying Week resource pack and find out more about the anti-bullying creative competition check out www.endbullying.org.uk or email [email protected]