Bullying
What is bullying?
If you are being bullied, someone might be:
- calling you names
- breaking your things
- stealing from you
- sending you nasty texts or emails
- hitting, biting or pushing you
- saying nasty things about you
- being left out of things
Visit our website Don't stick it STOP IT!
Children and young people with a learning disability get bullied everywhere...
We want it to STOP.
Call Childline on 0800 1111 if you need to talk to someone about bullying.
Bullying
Are you being bullied?
You have the right to feel safe and happy.
Bullying is wrong and you do not have to put up with it.
If you are being bullied, it is not your fault.
If you are being bullied, tell an adult you trust what is happening.
Ruth's story...
I got bullied. I was bullied for a couple of years. One time I was walking home from school and a boy grabbed my bag and threw it across a busy road. Other times, people called me rude names. I was really angry. I found it really hard trusting people. In the end my Mum wrote to the school and the boys got excluded from school. I am not scared anymore, if someone tries coming up to me and bullying me I say "Back off, I'm in charge". I would say to people getting bullied, speak up and tell someone.
Bullying
What can I do?
Tell somone you are being bullied, like a parent or a teacher.
Try to stay in a group if you can.
Walk away and try not to fight back as you could get into trouble or get hurt.
You can call Childline on 0800 1111. This is a free helpline for children. Childline counsellors will answer your call and will help with any problems.
If your mum, dad or carer want to know what to do to stop bullying, they can call Parentline on 0808 800 2222. This is a free helpline for parents.
Johnathon's story...
I got bullied when I was at school. I was bullied by these 3 girls; they called me names and they made me upset. I was frightened of telling the teacher. I was careful making new friends. When I was bullied I told my Mum, she went to the head teacher. I was bullied for a few weeks but not any more. Bullies should get a life. People who are bullied should speak out.
Bullying
Do you know someone being bullied?
Has someone told you they are being bullied? Has your friend been upset or different?
If you know someone being bullied, let them know that you care about them. Listen to them and try to get them to tell an adult who can help.
You or the person being bullied can call childline on 0800 1111. This is a free helpline for children. Childline counsellors will answer your call and will help with any problem.
Mark's story...
When I was at school I got bullied by some of the students. Some people could not understand what I was saying so they bullied me by calling me names. They were nasty about the way I speak and copied my style of talking. It made me feel really unhappy. I told my tutor to tell them to stop. Once they were told to stop they respected me and we ended up becoming good friends.
Bullying
Are you the bully?
It is hard to see how much you are hurting someone when you are bullying them.
You might be bullying someone because
- you are feeling bad or unhappy and seeing someone else upset makes you feel better
- you feel jealous of someone else
- you are having problems at home or at school or college
- you are afraid you will be bullied if you do not bully other people
- your friends make you bully other people
If you are bullying someone then try to stop. Talk to someone you trust and explain what is happening and how you feel.
If you do not stop bullying then you could get into trouble at school or college.
For more information and support on bullying.
Call Childline on 0800 1111 if you need to talk to someone about bullying.
Bullying
Take action: Don't stick it, stop it!
Most children with a learning disability are bullied. They get called names and hit by bullies.
Bullies pick on them because of their learning disability. This is not right.
Don't stick it, stop it! is Mencap's campaign to stop bullying. You can support the campaign and help to stop bullying.
You can
- print out the Don't stick it, stop it! booklet and show it to your parents or your teacher
- tell your friends about Don't stick it, stop it! - ask them to look at this website
- ask adults at your school or youth club what is happening to stop bullying
With thanks to Me2
Me2 are a group of young people who are campaigning to stop bullying. They went to London and told the government they should do more to stop children with a learning disability being bullied.