Anti Bullying and Online Safety Policy

Definition of bullying

The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as:

The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face to face or through cyber space.

Bullying behaviour may include, but is not limited to:

• Physical
• Verbal
• Emotional
• Sexual
• Online/cyber - Indirect
• Prejudice-related

There is no hierarchy of bullying, all forms of bullying are taken equally seriously and will be dealt with appropriately.

Objectives of this policy

• All children, adults, parents and carers should be aware of the anti-bullying policy within the organisation and what they should do if bullying arises.
• All workers should have an understanding of what bullying is, be aware of possible signs if it is happening and follow the policy when it is reported.
• Children and parents/carers should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
• Adults and their families should also be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

Prevention

Strategies can be adopted to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include: - Writing a set of group rules

• Signing a behaviour contract.
• Having discussions about bullying and why it matters.
• All staff, volunteers and group leaders modelling expected behaviour.
• Ensuring that the church actively promotes the celebration of difference and diversity through worship and other planned events.

Procedures

Our church uses a contextual approach to safeguarding and each incident will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Some of the church’s responses may include, but may not be limited to:

• Report the bullying incident to a leader.
• Ensure that details are carefully checked before action is taken.
• In all cases of bullying, the incidents should be recorded by the worker

Consideration should be given to informing parents/carers of the bully, but this should only be done if workers are satisfied there is no bullying/abuse going on at home that might exacerbate the situation.

If it is thought that an offence has been committed, consideration should be given to contacting the police.

• The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and stopped quickly. - Help should be offered to help the bully address their behaviour.
• Any safeguarding concerns should be reported to the designated safeguarding officer.

Outcomes

• The worker involved in dealing with the incident should issue a warning to the child or adult concerned.
• An apology should be given by the child or adult who has bullied another. - If possible, those involved will be reconciled.
• After the incident has been investigated and dealt with, the situation should be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.
• After the incident(s) have been investigated parents/carers should be informed of the action taken if the incident involves children or other vulnerable people.

 All incidents must be reported to the Safeguarding Officer or the Vicar.

If any further concerns remain these should be reported to the safeguarding officer, police or other external agencies as appropriate.

Online/Cyber bullying

These days bullying doesn’t just happen face to face. Cyberbullying – or bullying via digital technologieslike mobilephonesand computers –isa differentthreat tochildren andadults. It can be harder to spot and more difficult to stop than ‘traditional’ bullying but understanding the dangers can help keep children and adults safe. 

What's different about Online/Cyber bullying?

 

Cyberbullying is different to other forms of bullying because:

- it can occur anytime, anywhere – the victim can even receive bullying messages or materials at home.

- the audiencetothe bullying canbelargeand reached very quickly and easily if messages are passed around or things are posted online.

- it can be unintentional – people may not think about the consequences of sending messages or images or posting on social media.

 

Characteristics of Online/Cyber Bullying

- Anonymous – cyber abusers can use the internet using pseudonyms. - Accessibility - cyber bullies can approach their victims at any time

- Loss of inhibition – the anonymity of the internet can encourage cyber bullies to commit acts which they might otherwise do in person.

- Social exclusion – the inability to participate in online activities.

 

 

Ways of Online/ Cyberbullying

The most common ways of cyberbullying are through:

- Video chat apps, chat rooms, blogs and forums – although many of these are moderated, people involved in discussions can be sent abusive responses.

- text messaging – abusive and threatening texts can be sent to mobile phones. - abusive or prank phone calls – these can be made to a mobile phone.

- picture and video clip messaging – offensive images can be sent to mobile phones.

- email – new addresses can be set up in minutes and used to send offensive messages and images.

- social networking and messaging apps (like Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram WhatsApp) – offensive or humiliating messages and images can be posted on these sites.

- identity theft – in many cyber environments fake profiles can be set up pretending to be someone else with the aim of bullying others.

- instant message services – quicker than email, these allow users to have 'real time' conversations, and offensive messages or content can be sent in this way.

- webcams – usually used to view each other when chatting online, children and adults can also be sent abusive images or encouraged to act in an inappropriate way while being filmed.

- video chat apps – children and adults may find themselves the subject of films being shown (e.g. what is wrongly called ‘happy slapping’) or be accidentally exposed to pornographic images

- gaming sites, consoles and virtual worlds – chatting is possible within many games, and name-calling, abusive remarks and picking on particular players can occur.

 

Protecting children and adults from Cyberbullying

As with other types of bullying it’s important for you to listen to children and adults and react with sympathy. You should let them know that bullying is always wrong, and that seeking help is the right thing to do.

 

It’s important for them to learn to respect and look after their friends online and to think before they post or text. To help keep children and adults safe you can:

- encourage them to talk to you or another adult about anything that’s upsetting them. - watch out for them seeming upset after using the internet or their mobile phone.

- try to understand the ways in which they are using their digital technologies. - ask them to think about how their actions affect other users.

- suggest that they only use moderated chat rooms and follow age restrictions on apps and social media platforms.

- encourage them to show you any abusive or offensive emails or messages they’ve received and keep a record of them.

- help them report any abuse to their internet service provider, the website manager/moderator, the mobile phone company or the police.

- tell them never to respond to any abusive messages or calls – this is frequently what the abuser wants.

- discuss keeping their passwords safe and avoiding giving their name, email address or mobile phone number to people outside their circle of friends and family.

- change email address or telephone number if the abuse continues.

-     turn on in-built internet safety features and install computer software to ensure that you only receive emails from people you have chosen and to block unwanted images.

- tell them about places where they can go for help and support like ChildLine, CEOP’s ThinkuKnow and Childnet International, Bullying UK

 

 

Useful sources:

Helpline services : HSE InfoLine - 0845 345 0055; BullyingUK: 0808 800 2222 Websites: Anti-Bullying Alliance & Bullying Intervention Group

 

Adapted 20/04/2021 from Thirtyone; eight policy guidance

 

Reviewed for the PCC - February 2025