Bullying can be a frightening experience which can isolate and damage a child's or young person's self confidence. Bullying which is on-going and continuous can have a serious negative impact and affect children in the long term, leading to depression and even suicidal thoughts and actions.

• Bullying behaviour is usually deliberate and intentional, and usually involves deliberately hurtful acts of aggression and/or manipulation by one or more people against another person or people. 
• Bullying can last for a short or long period of time, and is always an abuse of power by the bully or bullies. 
• Bullying is sometimes pre-meditated (thought of or planned beforehand) and sometimes opportunistic (taking advantage of the moment) but is almost always persistent and constant.

Bullying includes any behaviour which picks on or singles anyone out. Usually this is based on them being different, i.e. different ethnic group, religion, sexuality, gender or having a disability. Unfortunately, we still live in a society which to be different in any way can mean ridicule and bullying.

You may think that your child is unlikely to be bullied but the reality is that bullying can happen at any time and to any child.

Bullies who continually harm other children need support and help as well. They may have experienced difficulties of their own at home, which may have led to their actions. Reporting any concerns you might have may help them to get help as well as those being bullied.

Key issues to do with bullying

• Bullying can happen anywhere, in the streets, at home, but most commonly it happens in school.
• Bullying can take many forms from verbal abuse and name calling through to physical attack.
• Bullying is repeatedly abusing someone by one or several others.
• Bullies are not always older than the child they harm.
• Most bulling is done by children who are the same age as the victim. 
• Adults can bully children as well.

If your child tells you about a friend or any other child who is being bullied, you should always listen carefully to them and take it seriously. The child being bullied may not be able to say for themselves what is happening and it is their friends or people around them which can help.

However, key to helping combat and stop bullying in many cases is evidence. All too often cases of bullying become embroiled and confused for professionals trying to prevent it because they do not have the evidence to back up their case. Therefore, it is very important that if your child is being bullied they keep a diary of what happens. This should include dates, times, names, description etc.. Parents or carers could help children with this task.

Bullying at School
Today, all schools are required to have an Anti Bullying Policy. However, school action alone cannot guarantee success and so it is important that parents and schools work together to prevent bullying.

If the bullying happens at school then your child should report it to a teacher, Police School Liaison Officer, Connexions PA or member of staff. They have a duty to help protect your child and work to stop the bullying. You can check their Anti Bullying Policy and see what action the school will take to combat bullying in your school.

It is important to remember that you should feel free to discuss bullying or any problem openly with the school. It can be difficult at times, especially when your child is upset, but only by talking calmly and looking at all the options can you work together with the school to help protect your child.

Bullying Outside School
If the bullying happens outside school then parents and carers can contact the Anti Social Behaviour Team within the Partnership Community Safety Team in the city (see 'Map of Services' or the 'Anti Social Behaviour' page on this site for more information) Or speak to your local youth worker. The Anti Social Behaviour Team can advice you and help find solutions to stop the bullying and help protect your child in the community and on the streets.

Bullying in and out of School
If the bullying happens in and out of school, perpetrated by the same individuals, then the Anti Social Behaviour Team, the School and Police can work together to provide solutions to help tackle the issue.

Bullying can be a very complex and persistent concern. But, with services (i.e. schools, Police, Anti-Social Behaviour Team and others) working together, solutions can be found to help. In order to do this however, evidence is needed. Therefore, you and your child should always keep a diary of incidents so that you can show to others what has and is happening, and how it affects your child.

Advice for parents and carers

• If your child is being bullied, they should always speak to someone they trust about it like a teacher, parents, youth worker, Connexions PA or friend. They should always find someone they trust who they can turn to and talk about it safely.
• It is important that your child keeps a diary of whenever things happen; this will help provide evidence to make sure action can be taken to help them.
• If your child is being bullied by text or over the internet always save the messages so you can use it as proof and show others what is going on.

Parents, carers or children and young people can also call the Bullying Line on 0800 0520228 on Tuesdays between 3pm and 8pm or childline on 0800 1111. Both phone lines will give you free, confidential advice.

The links below to specialist bullying websites also include contact details for parents and carers to seek more advice and information.

Links
www.anti-bullyingalliance.org/
The Anti-Bullying Alliance was founded by the NSPCC and National children's Bureau in 2002. The Alliance brings together 65 organisations into one network with the aim of reducing bullying and creating safer environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn. The site has lots of information for young people about bullying and has a list of other websites where you can find out moe.

www.coastkid.org/
Coastkid is a local anti-bullying website developed for the children and young people in Brighton & Hove. It explores the nature of bullying, including example stories and information which raises awareness and how it can impact on someone's life. It also includes information and advice which can help you deal with any bullying and harassment.

www.bullying.co.uk/
This is a great website that provides a range of information and advice about bullying in schools for children, young people, parents, teachers and other school staff. The website includes a range of information and advice to parents and carers including how to respond to schools.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bullying/
A great resource developed by the BBC which gives you a lot of information and advice.

www.childline.org.uk/Bullying.asp
This has been developed by Childline which gives you a range of information, resources and advice.

www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying/
The Department for Education and Skills, who adviceschools and set the curriculum, have produceds this website to support their anti bullying campaign. The site provides a lot of information, resources and advice.