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Bullying

Homophobic bullying is the same as any other form of bullying – it is wrong and it should be challenged. It can damage your self esteem, make you scared to go out and can affect the way you live your life. Nobody has to put up with bullying!Bullies

I am being bullied at school what can I do?

Tell someone – nothing can be done if they don’t know about it!

Choose someone that you feel comfortable with this will make reporting it a little bit easier.

Talk to your friends that you can trust, sometimes it helps to share with your friends so that you can feel supported; you still need to tell a member of staff.

Each school has rules and guidelines about bullying and protecting young people.

Keep a diary about what’s happening, it will give you and staff a better idea about who, what, and when it’s happening.

Telling someone you’re being bullied because of your sexuality can be difficult; you may not be ready for your school or anyone else to know your sexuality.
It may help to speak to your local gay project first in confidence to sound out what you want to do and what the best options are. There is a list of local projects on the Young People page.

Remember if you feel you are in immediate danger: call 999

 

I am being bullied at work what can I do?

Bullying doesn’t just happen at school, it can also happen at work, college and university.

A law against homophobic bullying has been in place since 2003 which protects people in the workplace which includes colleges and universities.
If bullying is not challenged and dealt in these places they are breaking the law!
You can find out more information here – http://www.stonewall.org.uk/what_we_do/research_and_policy/2868.asp

The easiest way to remember all of this is…

No one has the right to bully you and you don’t have to put up with any kind of bullying! YOU have the right to be protected! 

 

USEFUL LINKS

 

SCHOOL PROJECTS – HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA BULLYING AND HATE CRIME
Homophobic and transphobic bullying and hate crime are particularly serious. They attack people’s right to feel safe and confident about their sexual orientation and their gender identity. As with all incidents and crimes that are motivated by prejudice and hate, they have a devastating effect on those who are targeted.

CPS North West has worked with the Ministry of Justice, Stonewall and Gendered Intelligence to develop a free educational resource pack aimed at tackling homophobic and transphobic bullying and hate crime amongst young people. It contains video clips, information and lesson plans, to help teachers to explore these issues. We hope the resources will increase young people’s understanding about homophobic and transphobic prejudice, educate them about their responsibilities as citizens and provide them with the knowledge and skills to help them challenge the attitudes and behaviours that lead to bullying and hate crime.

 

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
This site has been designed to introduce you to the Exceeding Expectations Initiative and to give you information about tackling homophobia and addressing sexuality with young people.
Information has taken from a wide range of sources including the Department for Children, Schools and Families guidance on Homophobic Bullying, Stonewall, EACH and Connexions to provide a local perspective informed by national guidance.

 

RED BALLOONRed Balloon Learning Centres
The aim of Red Balloons is the recovery of bullied children. They provide an ‘intensive care’ full-time education for children aged between 9 and 18 who are unable to go to school because they have been severely bullied. At least half of the students they take have attempted or seriously considered suicide. They promise the students whom they accept a safe environment with clear boundaries for behaviour, and an individual full-time academic, pastoral and therapeutic programme. Once the students have regained their confidence and are able to cope academically and socially, they support them in their return to mainstream school, their entry to further education or to employment. There are Red Balloon Centres across the UK and one of them is in Blyth, Northumberland. To contact them please visit the website: redballoon or email:  or call: 07875 101008.

 

INCLUSION FOR ALL
Deputy Headteacher Shaun founded of IFA to help schools tackle homophobic bullying after years of working in schools and seeing countless school staff at every level, unable or unwilling to pro-actively tackle homophobic bullying or being ill equipped to support children who were obviously suffering, some of whom were questioning their identity and many of whom did not conform to established gender stereotypes.
Website: www.shaundellenty.com Inclusion For All

 

STONEWALL
One of Stonewallís key aims is to eradicate homophobia and sexual orientation-based discrimination in Britainís schools so that every child and young person can learn in a safe, supportive and respectful environment. Offers a huge variety of resources aimed at schools.
Website: www.stonewall.org.uk

 

EACH – Educational Action Challenging Homophobia EACH is the award-winning charity for adults and young people affected by homophobia and transphobia.
Website: www.eachaction.org.uk

 

SCHOOLS OUT!Schools Out Logo
Working towards equality, safety and visibility in education for all LGBT.
Website: www.schools-out.org.uk/

 

EDUCATE AND CELEBRATE
How to make your school LGBT friendly.
Website: www.ellybarnes.com Educate & Celebrate

 

OUT FOR OUR CHILDREN
Out For Our Children works to create a positive environment for children of same-sex parents in nurseries, play-groups and schools by producing and promoting representations of diverse families, with a particular focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parented children.
Website: www.outforourchildren.org.uk

 

THE CLASSROOM
The Classroom aims to be an accessible space for teachers to locate a range of resources to make LGBT people visible in education. We believe that to eradicate homophobia and transphobia, the lives and contributions of LGBT people need to be visible throughout education. This can be done by delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.
Website: www.the-classroom.org.uk Classroom

 

GENDERED INTELLIGENCE
Gendered Intelligence is a community interest company that looks to engage people in debates about gender. We work predominantly within young people’s settings and have educative aims.
Website: www.genderedintelligence.co.uk Gendered Intelligence

 

LETTERBOX LIBRARY
Letterbox Library have put together a unique book pack designed to help combat the negative attitudes which give rise to homophobic bullying, promote an inclusive educational environment in order to drive forward whole school improvement and so raise standards.
Website: www.letterboxlibrary.com

Letterbox Library

 

THE SCHOOL REPORT 2012 – STONEWALL

Stonewall have published The School Report: The experiences of gay young people in Britain’s schools in 2012, a survey of more than 1,600 young gay people. A key finding of the report is that, despite having declined since Stonewall’s previous report in 2007, homophobic bullying continues to be widespread in Britain’s schools. More than half (55 per cent) of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying, with distressing and significant impact on the pupils’ attainment, wellbeing and mental health. A list of recommendations is at the end of the report, along with links to resources that can support schools in developing their anti-homophobic bullying policies and practice.

The School Report 2012-Stonewall

 

SCHOOLS PROJECT: HOMOPHOBIC AND TRANSPHOBIC BULLYING AND HATE CRIME

The Crown Prosecution Service North West has worked with the Ministry of Justice, Stonewall and Gendered Intelligence to develop a free educational resource pack aimed at tackling homophobic and transphobic bullying and hate crime amongst young people
The resource pack contains video clips, information and lesson plans, to help teachers explore these issues. The resources aim to increase young people’s understanding about homophobic and transphobic prejudice, educate them about their responsibilities as citizens and provide them with the knowledge and skills to help them challenge the attitudes and behaviours that lead to bullying and hate crime. For more information go to: www.chimat.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=202540&src=KU
This pack complements packs on disability hate crime and racist and religious hate crime.

 

RISE ABOVE
Created by young people for young people, the ‘Rise Above’ website aims to build emotional resilience in individuals aged 11 to 16 by equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions, and help deal with the pressures of growing up.
It also encourages conversations about the key health and wellbeing issues that affect teens and young people.
‘Rise Above’ tackles topics that young people are most concerned about, such as puberty, relationships, alcohol, self-harm, smoking, contraceptive choices, drugs, body confidence, peer pressure and mental health.
Website: http://riseabove.org.uk

Rise Above

 

 

ONLINE SAFETY
A new Stop Online Abuse website set up to provide advice on what action individuals, especially women and LGBT people, can take against abusive content online and in other media.
Website: www.onlinesafetyuk.org

 

RUNAWAY HELPLINERunaway Helpline
3 in 10 LGBT+ young people will consider running away at some point and young LGBT+ people are three times more likely to run away from home. Runaway Helpline, which is a service run by Missing People, is a free, 24-hour helpline service for young people and we want to reach out more to help LGBT+ people who have run away or are thinking of running away. Runaway Helpline staff and volunteers give specialised support through their helpline to missing children and adults as well as providing practical and emotional support for friends and family who have a loved one missing and are desperately waiting for news. The free, confidential helpline is available 24 hours a day by phone, text and email. Call or text 116000 or email . Website: www.runawayhelpline.org.uk