Why Saving BullyingUK Charity Matters – The Scourge Of Bullying

Having asked you to help save the UK based Charity Bullying Uk I wanted to talk a little bit about the impact of bullying and how in today’s connected world it has spread from the playground to the online world. That means that more and more people are exposed to the risk of being bullied and makes the work of Bullying Uk all the more important.

With the increasing popularity of social networking sites and online chat rooms, cyberbullying has also spiked. Cyberbullying is not to be taken lightly, especially in the wake of recent deaths tied to the issue. That is why the work of organisations like BullyingUk is so important both in tackling and in increasing awareness of the issue.

Cyberbullying occurs when a child bullies another child in an online venue. While the bullying is not taking place in person, it is still a very serious issue. Teens that use the internet to cyberbully traditionally target their peers and smear their names or issue threats. Cyberbullying is not typically a one time occurrence; it is an ongoing issue that will continue until the matter is addressed, either by authority figures or by the teenager themselves. Often young people find it difficult to talk to people about what is happening to them and again that is why the work of Bullying Uk is so important.

Victims of cyberbullying usually become self-conscious or withdraw into themselves. Acceptance is what every teenager wants, especially from their peers. When a teenager is bullied instead, whether online or off, they can become very depressed and even express signs of self-hatred.

It is important, as a parent, to be aware of any changes in your teenager’s attitude or behavior as these can be early warning signs that something is not quite right. Addressing the issue head-on can be beneficial for both your teenager and you. Your teen will be happy to have a parent who cares and will stand behind them. Lack of parental support can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, along with depression and thoughts of harming themselves.

While murder and suicide are the extreme consequences of cyberbullying, most events are not usually pursuable in a criminal manner. While it is only normal to want the offender to pay for deliberately setting out to hurt your child, it is important not to stoop to the teen’s level as it then becomes a more serious nature for which you, as a responsible adult, will be in trouble. It is more advisable to document all of the cyberbullying events and use them as evidence if presented to the authorities.

Cyberbullying can affect your teen in various ways. Some teenagers shrug off the offending comments while others take the comments personally and withdraw into themselves. Very rarely, murder or suicide may be a result of a cyberbullying event taken too far.

Be aware of any serious changes in your teenager’s attitude or behavior as the changes may be an indication of something wrong in your teenager’s life. Open communication is important as well as letting your teenager know that you are there for support. Never take matters into your own hands by stooping to the level of cyberbullying – it could lead to criminal charges against yourself. Rather, document all of the comments and attempts of cyberbullying directed at your teen and present the evidence to authorities and let them handle the matter.

This article only scratches the surface of the issue of bullying and Cyberbullying. The work that BullyingUk do in tackling this scourge cannot be underestimated. BullyingUk as a Charity is under threat of closure because the Coalition Government has declined their request for £50,000 worth of funding. Their closure would be a tragic loss of many, many people. This cannot be allowed to happen and whatever size of donation you are able to make please do so, You can donate by going here Donate To Save BullyingUK

Help To Stop Bullying UK Charity Closing

Bullying is a scourge which is all too prevalent in the UK, in schools, workplaces, and communities the length and breadth of the UK.

It is a crime against every individual who is subjected to it and can cause untold damage to individuals and families, The work of Bullying UK ( who can be found on Twitter at @BullyingUK) is invaluable in tackling this scourge.

I was dismayed earlier today to hear on Twitter that they face closure in the current climate of cuts. Below is the text reprinted with their permission of the article which explains what will happen on 1st September 2010.

“The Pride of Britain Award-winning national children’s charity Bullying UK is facing closure by September 1, 2010 unless it can raise £50,000 to allow it to continue providing help, advice and support to more than 500,000 young people and their families a year through its unique helpline and online services.

Over the last 12 years, the small team of one staff member and four volunteers have worked on a shoestring budget, using cutting edge technology to raise awareness and provide high quality advice to children, their parents and schools.

“In past years the charity has relied on the help of businesses across the UK to support our work in the absence of any government grants, but the financial crisis means it has been difficult to source corporate help,” said CEO and founder John Carnell.

“We have recently been refused central government funding, even though our service provides a lifeline to suicidal young people and distressed parents every single day. All we need to fund the service for a year is £50,000. We must be one of the most cost effective children’s charities in the UK.”

“If Bullying UK shuts down, the government will need to provide two fully trained civil servants 24/7, 365 days a year, with an expertise to advise not only on complex education complaints, special needs and school appeal tribunals but to deal with suicidal children, school refusers, children suffering psychological problems and parents involved with social services and the police.

“We are asking people and businesses across the UK to please help us, so when the new school term starts Bullying UK will be here to support every family desperate for help. Donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/SaveBullyingUK . Corporate support is particularly welcome.”

Over the last 12 years volunteers for the charity, formerly called Bullying Online, have replied to more than 64,000 emails, and they supply 150,000+ leaflets to schools and youth organisations every year.

The charity has a particular expertise in dealing with cyber bullying issues, which currently make up more than 20% of the emails it receives.

“In addition to our web service through the Bullying UK website at www.bullying.co.uk we provide an iphone application and mobile website at m.bullying.co.uk so that families have our advice in their hands to access when they need it most.” said John.

Families who have accessed our help are speaking out to praise the essential support we have given them.:

“At a time when we were at a loss to know the best thing to do for our child, Bullying UK were able to help us giving direction and doing so helpfully and quickly” – Graham

“We have received tremendous help over the past few years. Bullying UK has been incredibly supportive and given a huge amount of useful information and consideration to our personal plight” – Debbie

“Bullying UK gave immediate most needed emotional support by replying promptly to my email” – Bernadette

“Bullying UK provided empathy and understanding but above all else the advice gave me the direction and control to approach the school in the most appropriate way and take the relevant steps to resolve the situation” – Sarah

Bullying UK has won many awards for our low cost, high impact work including: The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain award in 2005 for our advice service; The TalkTalk Innovation award for our digital anti-bullying Poster Creator; The BT Seen & Heard Award – for our music, art, video and verse project, The Zone; The Big Issue Big Difference Award for our advice service; The BT National eWell Being Award for our advice service; We have been finalists in the Guardian Charity Awards (three times) and finalist in the government’s National eCommerce Awards (twice).”

This cannot be allowed to happen and whatever size of donation you are able to make please do so, You can donate by going here Donate To Save BullyingUK

Why Donate To Ed Miliband’s Campaign?

A short while ago on Twitter I encouraged people to make a donation, however small, to support Ed Miliband’s campaign for the Labour Leadership.

A few moments later I got a message from someone asking me why they should donate especially given that they have never met Ed! I think my brief reply back to them that I had not yet met him but that we had to help to make a difference in this Leadership Campaign surprised them.

You see I haven’t yet had the chance to meet Ed. Every time he comes anywhere near I seem to be heading in the opposite direction! Such is my work right now that I am having to travel quite a lot and it always seems to be as Ed heads into the area.

However, I have seen Ed speak many times through the medium of the internet, I have read what he has to say and I have seen the commitment he has put into his work and this campaign.

Those who read my blog posts on a regular basis will be aware that I have talked about the commitment that my Grandfather showed to his communities, to his values and to the values which define a compassionate, caring society. For me Ed Miliband is the candidate who stands head and shoulders above the other candidates in putting forward the values which resonate with me.

This Labour Leadership campaign is being fiercly contested by all the participants. Contacting members and making them aware of what Ed Miliband stands for and believes in costs money. Ed’s campaign is being financed by people like you and me, people who can afford small donations, people like you and me who are having to deal with the realities of jobs under threat, prices increasing and services being withdrawn by the Coalition government. People like you and me who cannot afford to dip into their bank accounts and donate £50,000 or a £100,000 without blinking an eyelid.

For me this campaign should only be funded by small donations. If those small donations mean that the campaigns are more restricted in what they can spend then so be it. This is an internal Labour Party election taking place in this age of austerity that we are all now contending with. But that is a debate for another time when the election campaign is over because things have taken the turn they have taken.

However, for now each of us who believes in the strong, principled, values driven Leadership which Ed Miliband will bring need to play our part. The team supporting Ed Miliband is awesome and are working hard to ensure that his message and his values reach Labour Party members. If you can afford to donate a fiver to make a difference then please do by going here: Donate to Ed. (You can even use PayPal) If you can afford more then please do.

When we have a strong, principled and values driven leader in place then will be the time for those with deeper pockets than you or I to show their commitment to re-electing a Labour Government. With Ed Miliband in place as our Leader we will be able to set a clear course forward to Government based on the values which defined my Grandfather and Father and which define you and me!

Make that difference and make that donation to Ed Miliband’s Campaign

Why I Am Supporting John Prescott For Labour Treasurer

John Prescott will be known to all Labour Party members as former Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Party alongside Tony Blair.

After a hectic and inspired contribution to the 2010 General Election and elevation to the House of Lords John isn’t going to sit in his garden reading! In recent days he has submitted his nomination papers to become Labour’s next Treasurer.John has already got the backing of six socialist societies, the union Unity and a staggering 150 CLPs – more than 70% of the local parties that nominated.

John is a campaigner which of itself is a great reason to support him. But more than that John understands the power of the Internet to connect with people. As regular readers will know from my post “Labour Party Membership – We Are Missing An Opportunity” that I believe there is so much more that can be done to re-engage the Party Membership.

I believe that John understands that and knows that we need to make changes. He is willing to take on new ideas and look at new ways of campaigning and connecting.

In May, he travelled 5000 miles across Britain in his battlebus campaigning for our candidates in over 70 seats. He also maintained a constant connection with friends and the odd foe (very odd some of them!) through Twitter.

John I believe is the man to take on the role of Treasurer of the Labout Party and to help with rebuilding Labour, improving our campaign capacity and putting our finances onto a sustainable footing.

Ed Miliband’s Real Movement for Change

When I first heard talk of creating a Movement for Change from David Miliband I was enthused! I thought that he was talking about empowering the Labour Party to become a movement for change in our country. Once again enabling the Labour Party to become the champion of those values which people the length and breadth of our country believe in and aspire to. A prime example of this to me would have been the Living Wage.

However, whilst I am hearing positive things from those who have attended the Community Organisers Training around which it is based, my overall perception at the moment is that it seems to be about pulling together individuals within local communities to address specific local issues. So right now, and I mean no disrespect to those who have got involved, I am struggling to understand how it really differs from existing local community groups who get involved in addressing specific local community issues. By that I mean community based organisations such as the Round Table, Neighbourhood Watches, Junior Chambers, Church Groups and the like. The only significant difference I can see, right now, is that those groups have an established and sustainable structure and focus. Whereas it is really unclear to me how David’s “Movement for Change” will be sustained, structured and focused going forward once the Labour Leadership Campaign comes to an end.

But let me turn to the subject of this post which is what I see as the start of a real empowering of the Labour Party to become a “movement for change” in Britain. Ed Miliband’s campaign, which is at the heart of his Leadership Campaign, for a Living Wage. It’s a campaign which speaks to the values and ethos of the Labour Party. It’s a campaign which speaks to those values of fairness, equality, justice and compassion which set the Labour Party apart from those clustered together in unholy matrimony on the Government benches.

As Karen Buck stated with eloquent simplicity earlier today:

“It’s wrong that some of our leading companies can have chief executives who rake in millions, while a security guard still isn’t guaranteed a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work. It’s the sort of injustice that Labour would fight against every day under Ed Miliband, in opposition and in government.”

That for me is about returning a sense of meaning and purpose to the Labour Party. That for me is what a movement for change should be focusing on. We need to build on our historic achievement of introducing a Minimum Wage and take the argument to the next stage by campaigning and making a difference to the lives of literally millions of people across our nation.

Under Ed Miliband, Labour can do something about the injustice of working poverty in this country, and prove that through committed campaigns we can translate our values into real and meaningful action. That is what we can become. A focused, engaged, inclusive and campaigning organisation which is a real Movement for Change!