Anti-bullying campaign has the right ingredients - Wendy Harrington

Growing up can be tough, especially this year, but for those affected by bullying it is even tougher. The stark reality is that despite incredible ongoing efforts from many teachers, parents and youth leaders, bullying casts a shadow over the lives of many of Scotland’s young people.

Wendy Harrington, director, respectme

In an attempt to tackle this head on, we – Scotland’s anti-bullying service, respectme – recently launched ‘#WhatMadeItBetter?’, which aims to provide practical guidance on how to approach bullying for teachers, parents and young people based entirely on the views and reflections of those who have been unlucky enough to experience bullying in the past. We are asking them – what works to improve bullying?

Understandably the narrative around bullying often focuses on statistics. Like, for example the fact that 47% of young people in Scotland reported that they saw or experienced online bullying during lockdown. Or that 59% of them witnessed an increase in posts, comments and attitudes rooted in prejudice during the pandemic (Time for Inclusive Education).

Information like this is important; it helps to inform us of the scale of the issue at hand and how bullying manifests itself, particularly online bullying in an increasingly digital world that has grown more distant from the oversight of teachers and parents than ever before. However, real change will come from taking this knowledge of how bullying presents, mixing it with the experiences of those who have recovered from bullying and adding in a large dose of insights from young people who are living in today’s world. Respectme intends to take these ingredients and bake an effective plan for the future. If you like, our expertise is knowing what amount of each ingredient is required to make the whole thing rise to greatness.

That is why the ‘#WhatMadeItBetter?’ campaign is so important. We have ‘consulted’ before, but this is a real opportunity for those with ‘lived experience’ to shape the future. Running alongside the campaign resources is an online survey for adults, professionals and young people to share their opinions to help shape the campaign.

The campaign launched during Anti-Bullying Week 2020 and has already won prominent backing from the likes of James Allan, frontman of award-winning Scottish indie band Glasvegas, and the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education, John Swinney.

One advantage of the digital world we live in is that Scotland’s young people are better educated and informed than ever before. Classrooms are no longer places for passive learning, but teachers are creating innovative change makers. Young people do not readily accept a status quo that is unfair, one that makes no sense. We need to harness their enthusiasm; we need to utilize their informed perspective on what will make a difference. Society needs them to grow into innovative, empathetic individuals who can lead us through the complexities our country, and the world is facing. The solution lies with them and the creation of the right environment for them to flourish in is our responsibility. We must take it now.

Respectme has developed a range of campaign resources- from lesson plans to social media content for primary and secondary aged children to help parents and carers, schools, sports and youth groups recognise and address bullying behaviours effectively.

These resources are practical and free to download. Please be a part of this change; help make it better for all of us.

www.whatmadeitbetter.com

Wendy Harrington, director, respectme