ANTI-BULLYING WEEK

• The theme for Anti-Bullying Week 2018 is: ‘Choose Respect’ and Anti-Bullying Week runs from 12th - 16th November
• We will hold Odd Socks Day for Anti-Bullying Week again on the first day of Anti-Bullying Week (12th November)
• We will be holding its first ever 'Stop Speak Support' cyberbullying day on the Thursday of Anti-Bullying Week (15th November) supported by the Royal Foundation
• A set of free teaching resources, including lesson and assembly plans and films on bullying, ideas for Odd Socks Day and Stop Speak Support resources about cyberbullying will be available in the run-up to Anti-Bullying Week

The theme for this year's Anti-Bullying Week is to choose respect over bullying.

Following a consultation with over 800 children, teachers and members of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, it emerged that a top priority was showing that bullying is a behaviour choice, and that children and young people can set a positive example by opting to respect each other at school, in their homes and communities, and online.

The aims of this week are to support schools and other settings to help children and young people, school staff, parents and other professionals who work with children to understand:

• The definition of respect

• That bullying is a behaviour choice

• That we can respectfully disagree with each other i.e. we don’t have to be best friends or always agree with each other but we do have to respect each other

• That we all need to choose to respect each other both face to face and online

The Anti-Bullying Alliance, with the continued support of SafeToNet, will be developing a set of free cross-curricular teaching resources to support both primary and secondary schools to embrace the theme of respect.

CBeebies star Andy Day and Anti-Bullying Alliance patron, and his band Andy and the Odd Socks, are supporting Anti-Bullying Week 2018 and are encouraging students to wear odd socks to school during the campaign to show their support and raise money for a good cause.

There will also be Anti-Bullying Week School Staff Awards for those inspiring members of the school workforce who go the extra mile to support pupils and prevent bullying.

With the support of the Royal Foundation Anti-Bullying Week will hold its first ever Stop Speak Support Day highlighting the issue of cyberbullying on Thursday 15th November.

Martha Evans, National Coordinator of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said:

The feedback from children and teachers on the theme has been really encouraging and we are excited to announce the plans for this year’s campaign. They want to send the message loud and clear that bullying is a behaviour choice, and by choosing respect for others, even when we disagree with them, can create a positive atmosphere where we can all grow, play and learn.

Sharon Pursey, of SafeToNet Ltd, said:

SafeToNet support the Anti Bullying Alliance wholeheartedly with their #choose respect theme for this year’s Anti Bullying Week. Respecting others differences in every sense requires education, maturity and strength of character. We look forward to working with the Anti-Bullying Alliance and Andy Day to make this the best year ever.

Andy Day said:

Me and my band Andy and the Odd Socks are so pleased to be working with the Anti-Bullying Alliance again this year to launch Odd Socks Day for Anti-Bullying Week. Bullying is never something anyone should have to put up with and I'm delighted we can help raise the issue in such a positive way. Get ready for a Choose Respect rap and a whole lot of Odd Socks!