Fylde coast anti-bullying campaign Kindness Counts UK calls on businesses for support

Kindness Counts UK, formerly Madd about bullying, is an initiative set up in March 2019 to provide Fylde coast primary and high schools with anti-bullying resources.

Before children go back to school in September - after months of absence due to the coronavirus lockdown - the campaign's seven volunteers hoped that local businesses would help them support returning pupils.

Volunteers plan events all year round, but they were all cancelled due to the pandemic, leaving the campaign without fundraising opportunities in 2020.

Michelle Atherton, chairman and events organiser for Kindness Counts UK, said: "We are concerned about possible bullying when schools reopen, because children are at all different levels now.

"Some children had their parents at home teaching them, but other parents were working on the front line and maybe didn't have as much time - there could be lots of reasons.

"We have collection tins and recycling boxes in 46 businesses across the Fylde coast so far, but we are hoping more businesses will have them so we can raise more money for resources.

"The aim is to have at least three businesses in each school area, that way they are providing resources directly to schools in their communities."

Kindness Counts UK currently works with 20 schools across the coast, by providing resources such as buddy benches for children to sit on to make friends, and lego therapy.

It also provides help with sports and uniforms, and from September will visit all participating schools with a new mascot.

To support the campaign through your business by taking a collection tin and recycling box, or for more information on how it can help your school, contact Michelle on [email protected]