Grow Your Potential
Anti-Bullying Policy
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- to prevent bullying from happening amongst the children and young people who are involved with Grow Your Potential CIC
- to make sure bullying is stopped as soon as possible if it does happen and that those involved receive the support they need
- to provide information to all staff, volunteers, children and their families about what we should all do to prevent and deal with bullying amongst children and young people.
This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of Grow Your Potential CIC, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and learners.
What is bullying?
Bullying includes a range of abusive behaviour that is;
- repeated
- intended to hurt someone either physically or emotionally.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in the UK. The NSPCC provides summaries of the key legislation and guidance on:
- Bullying https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/bullying
- Online abuse https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/online-abuse
- Child protection https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-protection-system
We believe that:
- children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
- we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- bullying causes real distress. It can affect a person’s health and development and, at the extreme, can cause significant harm
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
- everyone has a role to play in preventing all forms of bullying (including online) and putting a stop to bullying.
We will seek to prevent bullying by:
- developing a code of behaviour that sets out how everyone involved in our organisation is expected to behave, both in face-to-face contact and online
- holding regular discussions with staff, volunteers, children, young people and families who use our organisation about bullying and how to prevent it.
These discussions will focus on:
- group members’ responsibilities to look after one another and uphold the behaviour code
- practising skills such as listening to each other o respecting the fact that we are all different
- making sure that no one is without friends
- dealing with problems in a positive way
- checking that our anti-bullying measures are working well.
- providing support and training for all staff and volunteers on dealing with all forms of bullying, including racial, sexist, homophobic and sexual bullying
- putting clear and robust anti-bullying procedures in place
- making sure our response to incidents of bullying takes into account:
- the needs of the person being bullied
- the needs of the person displaying bullying behaviour o needs of any bystanders
- our organisation as a whole.
- reviewing the plan developed to address any incidents of bullying at regular intervals, in order to ensure that the problem has been resolved in the long term.
We recognise that bullying is closely related to how we respect and recognise the value of diversity. We will be proactive about:
- seeking opportunities to learn about and celebrate difference
- increasing diversity within our staff, volunteers, children and young people
- welcoming new members to our organisation.
Related policies and procedures
This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies and procedures including:
- Child protection / safeguarding policy statement
- Procedures for responding to concerns about a child or young person’s wellbeing
- Dealing with allegations made against a child or young person
- Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
- Code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Online safety policy and procedures for responding to concerns about online abuse
- Equality and diversity policies
Nominated anti-bullying lead
Mohammed Miah mohammedmiah@growyourpotential.org.uk 07910752718
Senior lead for safeguarding and child protection
Sadiqul Choudhury sadiqulchoudhury@growyourpotential.org.uk 07399899518