Bullying
Bullying is behaviour by an individual or a group that hurts someone else. It can be conducted face to face or online. It’s usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.
Bullying includes:
- verbal abuse, such as name calling, gossiping, spreading rumours, teasing, threatening, humiliating
- non-verbal abuse, such as hand signs, text messages, exclusion, such as ignoring or isolating someone
- controlling or manipulating someone
- racial, sexual or homophobic bullying
- physical assaults, such as hitting and pushing
- making silent, hoax or abusive calls
- online or cyberbullying.
Bullying that happens online, using social networks, games and mobile phones, is often called cyberbullying. A child can feel like there’s no escape because it can happen wherever they are, at any time of day or night.
Where to get help
There are lots of organisations that provide support, advice and resources around bullying:
Kidscape Government advice on bullying at school
For cyberbullying and practical advice, visit:
for access to videos, prompt cards and other resources and practical advice on how to report, block and configure your settings across the most popular apps and games. You will need to register to use the H2B Safety Centre but this is free and simple.
Metropolitan Police has advice and info if you are being harrassed on social media