Anti-bullying charter set to take off in Blackpool

Schools in Blackpool are being urged to sign up to a 'Beat the Bullying' charter developed by young people in the town which is the first of its kind in the country.
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The anti-bullying charter mark sets out the impact of bullying on pupils and has been created as part of Headstart, a Lottery-funded initiative aimed at improving children's resilience and mental health.

Blackpool Council unanimously supported a notice of motion by Coun Tony Williams calling for the council's chief executive to write to every school headteacher in the town asking them to adopt the charter mark.

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It comes after figures showed nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of Blackpool secondary school students said they had been bullied within school or near the school’s location in the last 12 months.

An anti-bullying charter has been launched in BlackpoolAn anti-bullying charter has been launched in Blackpool
An anti-bullying charter has been launched in Blackpool

Hannah Eaglestone, co-leader of Blackpool Beating Bullies, addressed the council about the campaign.

She told the meeting the campaign had been set up "for young people, by young people."

She added: "Bullying is a massive issue that most young people face at some time in their lives.

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"We want to change this and focus on the system around bullying. This is a way of changing the odds for all young people in our town."

Schools can achieve a bronze, silver and gold charter mark and are asked to follow key principles to prevent bullying.

These are issues that young people highlighted as being important such as having the anti-bullying policy on show, in an accessible place and in an accessible manner.

Resilient therapy is also embedded within the charter mark, schools are encouraged to access free anti-bullying training and wristbands showing support for the campaign are available.

There are around three other anti-bullying charter marks in the UK but the Blackpool scheme is believed to be the only one which is based on the views and opinions of the young people themselves.