Cheshire’s Anti-Bullying Commission has released its first report into bullying among under 25s in Cheshire.
It comes in Anti-Bullying Week and as latest ONS data reveals one in five children experienced some form of online bullying last year.
There are warnings the problem has worsened during lockdown.
The report recommends schools, workplaces and community organisations come together against it.
It found more needs to be done to not only protect victims but also manage the behaviour of bullies themselves.
It has developed a county-wide charter and is urging schools, workplaces and community organisations to sign it to show a commitment to challenging bullies and protect people.
Cheshire’s Anti-Bullying Charter is the first time a county-wide pledge has been implemented.
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane helped establish it in a bid to bring together representatives from the criminal justice, education and academic sectors.
Since it was launched in May 2019, the Commission has spoken to hundreds of people across Cheshire who have experienced bullying.
It has also reviewed academic research, serious case reviews and coroner’s reports on suicides where bullying has been a factor.
Mr Keane said: “As a result of this first phase, focused on under 25s, we have identified a set recommendations which I believe can achieve real change for our young people in Cheshire and beyond.
“Through the work of the Commission we have heard some heartbreaking cases of how being bullied at a young age has severely affected people in later life and in some cases, has resulted in suicide or self-harm.
“What our findings have outlined is that tackling this is everyone’s business; the only way we are going to halt this bullying epidemic among all generations in our society is by working together to change behaviour and make it unacceptable to target someone simply just for who they are.
“It is crucial that we work together to ensure these are not just words in a report but actions to make a difference for our communities.”
Cheshire Anti-Bullying Commission’s recommendations to try to reduce the impact of bullying across Cheshire include the need for:
– A multi-agency approach to provide early-intervention support for victims and perpetrators of bullying
– A free and anonymous online counselling service for young people across Cheshire
– Schools and local authorities to offer increased education around the issue
– Police to increase engagement with schools and to raise awareness of when it becomes criminal behaviour
– Improved internet safety to make it harder for people to search and access information on self-harm
– A Cheshire-wide campaign to raise awareness of the effects which includes organisations committing to an Anti-Bullying Charter.
Alan Yates, chair of the Commission and a former Cheshire head teacher, added: “The Charter clearly outlines that bullying will not be tolerated in our communities.
“It is designed to complement the same principles and standards of anti-bullying work which is already being carried out by education establishments and organisations across Cheshire.
“The signatories commit to doing all they can to not only tackle it in their organisations but also helping to raise awareness of the types of bullying that most commonly occur and promoting how to report incidences without stigma.
“I believe by working together collectively we can achieve a caring society in which all individuals are afforded the tolerance, respect and support needed to achieve their full potential and live a happy and fulfilled life.”
Cheshire Anti-Bullying Call for Evidence video:
I have an idea on how not to tackle it. Ask Boris Johnson to oversee it and he will do nothing for fear of, in this overly PC world, being accused of sexism or racism.