Bullying is increasingly cited as a barrier to effective learning and community cohesion. At tpm we take a Zero-Tolerance stance on bullying and foster a ‘telling culture’ on any form of discrimination. Our equality and diversity training for staff and learners has been an effective deterrent to discrimination resulting in minimal incidence and is taught on all learning programmes.
Our Zero-Tolerance Promise, implemented in September 2009, requires learners to sign a personal contribution to maintain a safe environment and respectful and inclusive culture; where bullies cannot thrive. We have also included information, advice and guidance updates from BullyingUk, Stonewall, need2know, digizen and Muslim Youth Helpline on our website, twitter and facebook pages.
Bullying can mean doing or saying something that deliberately hurts, threatens or frightens a person to gain power over them. Bullying includes: name calling, verbal insults and put-downs, leaving people out of activities, ignoring or threatening someone, making people feel uncomfortable or scared, hitting or kicking them, spreading humiliating rumours and making them do things they don’t want to do. Individuals, groups, and even people in great authority can be bullies. Bullying methods vary and include e-mail and texts (cyber-bullying), which also includes sending offensive images or offensively tagging pictures of people on the internet.
Some young people become the target of bullying for no particular reason, but often it’s because they are perceived as different in some way, their race and or the colour of their skin, the way they talk, their size, name or perhaps because they look like they won’t stand up for themselves. Sometimes young people are bullied because of their perceived sexuality or gender; for example a survey conducted by the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transsexual) Excellence Centre, Wales, found that 85% of the 600 Welsh school students based in Cardiff, felt that their school was not safe for LGBT people.
Bullies fulfill emotional needs by hurting others. Some gain feelings of control, some gain feelings of power, some gain attention and some even perceive they are gaining ‘respect’. But conversely, being bullied can make young people feel lonely, unhappy and frightened. It makes them feel unsafe and think there must be something wrong with them. They lose confidence and may not want to go to work or college any more. It can cause depression and we know for a fact that too many young people have committed suicide as a result.
Being bullied can be very scary and difficult, but remember, you are not the problem, the bully is. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination at tpm and we don’t uphold false or misguided honour values like ‘not grassing someone up’ either. So don’t worry about telling someone, or asking someone else to report it. You have a right to feel safe and secure. Celebrate your difference and similarity equally and be proud of who you are!
Do you know a bully? Do you want to report a bully? Remember you can speak to us confidentially. Are you a bully? Think about why you do it and how you feel at the time. If you are, try to find other ways to make yourself feel good. Most bullies aren’t liked, even if it starts out that way. Remember, bullies will not be tolerated and they won’t prosper.
Websites Dealing Directly with Bullying
BullyingUK
Beatbullying
Stonewall – the LGB charity
ChildLine – talking is free on 0800 1111.
Need2know, Video message
The anti- bullying Alliance Uk
Thinkuknow – CEOP‘s Educational website
Cyberbullying Overview -
October 20, 2009 at 10:02 am |
Whilst bullying exists in our younger lives, it is also a growing phenomenon in the workplace and can effect people of all ages and status, it can numb a person into almost incomptence when it happens, it takes many forms, such as anger that is apparently out of all proportion in relation to the ‘offence’. It is worse when it is the employer using ‘bullying’ as a management tool as the subordinate staff member feels unable and incapable of responding for fear of jeopardising their employment. Workplace bullying cannot and should never be tolerated, it is destructive and counter productive not only to the recipient but also to the productivity of the business which allows such a culture to exist.
At TPM we encourage all of our staff and learners to disclose when they feel they are being subjected to such treatment so that it can be addressed directly with the person carrying out the bullying – we feel that everybody has the right to be protected from such behaviour, which is why the whole organisation is commited to the Zero Tolerance stance.
November 3, 2009 at 3:49 pm |
I have been working here at Training Plus merseyside for just under 2 years and have completed my Business Admin L2 and L3 NVQ here. During my time at Training Plus I have gained a great knowledge surrounding Bullying and Discrimination within and outside of the workplace. I have had relevant Equality and Diversity Training and also completed an Equality and Diversity workbook and passed an exam. Training Plus merseyside has a serious view on bullying and also also has a zero tolerance policy which we all agree with and adhere to.
November 3, 2009 at 4:17 pm |
I think that people bully because they do not have self-esteem or self-confidence, so by bullying they think it makes them look tougher and in control. I also believe that there may be problems at home which affect their life in many ways, they get angry and take the anger out on innocent people.
Here at TPM I was one of the first learners to achieve the Equality and Diversity qualification at Level 2 which widened my knowledge of bullying/discrimination and made me aware of the issues that people face on a day to day basis.
November 3, 2009 at 4:30 pm |
I agree that bullying must be tackled at all levels, whilst it is the duty of all of us to challenge bullying when we see it, it is sometimes very intimidating and people just leave well enough alone; this cannot and should not continue as this is what gives the bully the ammunition they crave.
We at tpm feel very strongly about ZERO tolerance of bullying and have signed up to our ZERO tolerance campaign, we have encouraged our learners to also sign up to this campaign and have all promised to do our bit to stamp this practice out.
November 5, 2009 at 3:53 pm |
I feel that if people are getting bullied then they should tell someone as soon as possible because this could lead to serious damage to the person.
November 5, 2009 at 3:56 pm |
I feel really strongly against bullying, I feel that bullying can hold alot of people back from fulfilling their goals and ambitions in life because they fear what people may say. The only way to live positive is to accept what people belive in. Life’s too short to harrass somebody on a certain thing about them that you may disagree with, or maybe even feel jealous about!
November 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm |
Bullying unfortunately goes on in all walks of life and can have such a profound effect on those involved. Just ignoring the behavior simply isn’t enough and allthough it may be difficult to talk about if you are being bullied, it is important to speak up to someone you can trust to take your comments seriously, as no one should have to face this on their own. Bullies are often scared and insecure themselves and use their behaviour to mask thier own problems.
December 3, 2009 at 4:00 pm |
Bullying is wrong. It is not fair and can have serious consequences. It should be stopped completely.
December 3, 2009 at 4:01 pm |
well I have unfortunately been on both sides of bullying and both sides are not nice, in my opinion bullies only do it to secure them selves from being bullied themselves and are really scared of getting hurt. but being bullied isnt nice everyone picking on you because you’re different and in my experience it didn’t help by going to the teacher and trying to get help from them even though it was the right thing to do. I personally would show them you’re not scared and cant be pushed around; they will soon stop and go on to someone else.
December 3, 2009 at 4:03 pm |
bullying can really hurt someones self esteem, a lot of people are affraid of being themselves in fear of what somebody says about them, bullying needs to be stoped because I can imagine how affraid and miserable someone who is being bullied feels, and it makes me angry that people are ok with doing this to someone!
December 3, 2009 at 4:03 pm |
There is alot of bullying everywhere & people are afraid to speak out. I think there should be classes or places where people being bullied can express their feelings. I am very against bullying & think its wrong. I think that people who do bully feel self-conscious & have experienced bulling them selves.
December 3, 2009 at 4:04 pm |
I think bullying is terrible it causes alot of stress to people who are the victims and can lead to people commiting sucide, it should stop
December 12, 2009 at 11:43 am |
i think when schools or colleges have a zero tolerence to bullying then it should be zero tolerance. I have been in schools where kids are being bullied go to the teachers and tell them who it is and what there doing and nothing happens apart from a slap on the wrist and that just makes the bullies have more power and more anger towards the people the tormenting and it really should stop. If you bully then you should face the consequences and should be expelled from the school to show it is not acceptable.
December 29, 2009 at 10:16 am |
what about it happening in companies and the staff being too scared to say anything and the after effects are still there many years later
January 2, 2010 at 3:23 am |
Yes good point JoJo, the impact of bullying can be long lasting. Bullying must be reported in all circumstances otherwise the fear factor allows bullies to continue; you should always encourabge someone to follow the procedures in place. Of course it is also important to deal with any and all impact and to create a safe working environment; this is the critical importance of understanding employment rights and responsibilities and indeed following discipline and grievance procedures to manage the process.
Remember if you have concerns yourself speak to a colleague in charge; they have a legal responsibility to keep all employees safe and free from discrimination of any form.
January 2, 2010 at 7:28 am |
[...] TPM Blog Issues affecting learners and young people « Bullying [...]
February 1, 2010 at 11:33 am |
I think bullying is a terrible act, in the way it makes you the bully feel big! but without knowing what impact that may have on the person
March 31, 2010 at 12:27 am |
[...] October 2009 tpm published a Bullying Blog, launching our Cyber-bullying Campaign and publicised our Zero-Tolerance Promise stance on bullying [...]
June 18, 2010 at 2:21 pm |
i disagree with bullying its not nice
June 18, 2010 at 2:21 pm |
I believe the Zero Tolerance Promise is a great thing and should be implemented in all places it can be. Bullying is a terrible thing and should be stopped.
June 18, 2010 at 2:23 pm |
I am strongly against bullying as i feel everyone has the right to feel happy and safe in their place of work or training. They shouldnt have to feel scared or worried about going into work and seeing the person or people who are bullying them.
June 18, 2010 at 2:28 pm |
in my opinion bullying takes place when the bully is less fortunite than the person they bully. they might have problems at home. Zero tolerance should be zero tolerence and no second chances should be given. the first signs of bullying kick the bully out of the school or college.
June 18, 2010 at 2:30 pm |
I agreee with the above highly. To me bullying is bad, humiliating, and embarrassing to someone in that postion or who has witnessed someone being bullied or harassed. I believe that bullying should be dealt with immediately, I think if your being bullied you shouldn’t hide in a shell , you should stand up for yourself and tell someone about it.
October 1, 2010 at 1:56 pm |
i think bullying is absolutely disgraceful it is entirely bad!!!!!
January 7, 2011 at 3:39 pm |
Bullying is unacceptable and so is cyber bulling