November 16th – 20th 2015 is Anti-Bullying week in the UK and Northern Ireland. Horse Sport Ireland, as a 32 County Body will be supporting this not only for our units in the North, but it is also an opportunity for all those in the South to make their members aware of Anti-Bullying as there is currently no Anti-Bullying week in the Republic. Every week should be Anti-Bullying week, and it is. However, this week is unique because everybody will be talking about it, which should make it even easier for you to talk about it within your affiliate and your clubs.
Below you will find some useful information on Anti-Bullying, and I have also attached documents to support this. Furthermore, all this information is available on the Horse Sport Ireland website at the following link:
http://www.horsesportireland.ie/anti-bullying/
This year’s Anti-Bullying Week (ABW) theme is, “What Does Bullying Mean To Me?” and will focus on what bullying is all about. Horse Sport Ireland will be active on Social Media for the week so please follow us and promote the week through our Twitter page @TeamIrlEq. The Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF) are also on Twitter, follow them on @niabf, the hashtag for Anti-Bullying Week is #ABW15, get involved and get active on your Twitter account and help to end bullying now!
What Is Bullying?
Currently there is no legal definition for bullying, The Northern Ireland Anti -Bullying Forum (NIABF) have defined it as:
“Bullying is the repeated use of power by one or more persons intentionally to harm, hurt or adversely affect the rights of another or others.”
An Anti-Bullying Survey carried out by researchers at the anti-bullying charity, “Ditch the Label” discovered some harrowing statistics on bullying in young people:
- 1 in 10 children surveyed have experienced bullying;
- 25% of children worry about bullying/being bullied on a regular basis;
- 8 out of 10 children with a learning difficulty are bullied;
- Majority of young people claiming they are bullied due to appearance, weight or body shape.
Bullying has a long term effect on our young people, and needs to be combated.
Free Online Webinar – Anti-Bullying Week 2015
The Child Protection in Sport Unit (The CPSU) are hosting a free webinar on 17th November 2015. The webinar will help sports organisations to support children and young people to speak out about face to face and online bullying. To register for this please follow the link below:
https://thecpsu.org.uk/news/2015/november/make-a-noise-about-bullying-in-sport-webinar/
Please make the availability of this FREE webinar known to your club children’s officer.
What Can You Do For Anti-Bullying Week 2015?
Use your voice this Anti-Bullying week, display posters in your equestrian centre/riding school, make yourself heard online using the #ABW15, encourage your members to use the Anti-Bullying activates. Help us eliminate bullying in Equestrian Sports.
Attached you will find some Anti-Bullying posters, Anti-Bullying activates you can use with young people within your affiliate and a copy of the Horse Sport Ireland Anti-Bullying Policy. All this information and more is also available on our website by clicking here. We would ask you, for this week to promote these resources on your own websites also.
If you have any further queries, do not hesitate to contact me on this email or at the phone number below.
Make some noise for Anti-Bullying week, and help end bullying in Equestrian Sports!
Ciara Gorman
National Safeguarding Officer
Horse Sport Ireland
1st Floor, Beech House
Millennium Park, Osberstown
Naas, Co Kildare
W91 TK7N
Tel: 045 854 524
Horse Sport Ireland Anti-Bullying Policy
ABW15 Poster 1
ABW15 Poster 2
ABW15 Poster 3
ABW15 Poster 4