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community safety

Taking steps against bullying simple – to live the best life is
The idea behind the week is
to be free of anxiety and fear,
and bullying produces those
Anti-Bullying Week celebrated unity and difference, feelings, along with shame
kicking off with Odd Socks Day to get people involved and desperation.
So what is bullying?
in bringing in change, says Lynne Tooze The ABA defines bullying as
“the repetitive, intentional hurting of one
person or group by another person or
nti-Bullying Week took place in people with a learning disability. Being group, where the relationship involves an
November. Given it was held during part of this week was important. If we are imbalance of power. It can happen face to
Alockdown, social media was more all responsible for child protection and face or online.”
useful than ever. safeguarding, then we are responsible Respond chief executive Noelle
Schools, organisations and individuals when we see or hear bullying. The effects Blackman describes bullying as “not being
all contributed to the week. Events were of bullying are enduring for both victims taken seriously as a person, being left out,
held, toolkits were provided and films and and those who witness it. ignored and sidelined. These are all forms
photos were shown online. The sharing of The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) of bullying. People with learning
experiences and information created a organises the week in the UK. Anti- disabilities may experience this most days
feeling of unity. That’s important. Unity Bullying Week begins with Odd Socks Day of their lives.”
combats division. to celebrate what makes each of us So, Odd Socks Day started the week and
At Respond, we have seen an increase unique, then aims to highlight bullying was fun. And fun things make people
in bullying, hate crimes and abuse against and why it we should unite to stop it. want to be involved. Here at Respond, we
had a great time searching through socks
to put on then photograph. One of the
Some ideas on how to combat bullying therapists at Respond really enjoyed
feeling the difference, with wild and
l l Challenge bullying in a safe way – in person or online house cat themed socks combined with
l l Be vocal about difference and diversity, highlighting how great it is that we are furry slippers (pictured).
different, behave in different ways and think in different ways. Difference can be We wanted to highlight that we are all
the source of great creativity and actions different and individual. We wanted to
l l Remember that bullying is the result of someone else’s pain and distress. It is not embrace our individuality and be part of
a reflection of the victim; the shame that may be felt lies with the person who is change. It is change that is important – not
the bully recriminations, but change.
l l Ask for help, report it to the police or someone in authority. Tell someone you trust As ABA says: “We’re all a piece in
l l Remember you don’t have to be silent the puzzle and, together, we’re united
against bullying.” n

This is particularly nasty as it manifests as are reporting humiliating experiences and
a complete betrayal of trust. Disabled people are reporting misunderstanding around the mandatory
Unscrupulous individuals target humiliating experiences use of face coverings and exemptions,
people with a learning disability in the particularly if an impairment is not
community and pretend to be their around the mandatory use of immediately apparent.
friend. They can be neighbours, face coverings, particularly if It can sometimes feel like there is still
carers or family members and their such a long way to go but, by raising
intention is to exploit their victim for an impairment is not apparent awareness, promoting zero tolerance of
financial gain. any form of hate and empowering disabled
Of course, people with a learning people, we are more than halfway there.
disability want friends and relationships People with a learning disability have The campaigns and messages from
– why wouldn’t they? What begins with sometimes become too afraid to go Disability Equality are clear: please don’t
acts of kindness and camaraderie can home, and have become homeless or be a bystander and, if it doesn’t look right,
quickly deteriorate. found begging on the streets. if it doesn’t feel right, report it. n
It may start with spending fun times While cuckooing is relatively rare, it l http://disability-equality.org.uk/
together and socialising but it then moves does happen and people with a learning
on to getting the unsuspecting victim to disability and/or autism are vulnerable Jennifer Carthy is hate crime services
give or loan small amounts of money and even in their own neighbourhood or manager for Disability Equality NW
not paying this back, while trying to networks. This is even more so in times of
confuse the victim. extreme hardship and austerity when Refs
In the worst cases, criminals take over they are seen as easy targets. Dimensions (2006) Say No More Autism and
the homes of vulnerable people and use Learning Disability Hate crime – #ImWithSam.
them for illegal purposes such as storing Attitudes persist https://tinyurl.com/ycdrvj68
stolen goods or drug dealing. This is The pandemic has also exposed some Home Office (2019) Hate Crime England and
known as “cuckooing”. worrying attitudes; many disabled people Wales 2018-19. https://tinyurl.com/y2kzjorn

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 34 No 3 | Spring 2021 23