Beverley Braves RLFC are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all children and young people, so they can participate in rugby league activities in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. 

Bullying of any kind is unacceptable in our organisation.  If bullying does occur, all children and young people should be able to tell someone and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. 

We are a TELLING organisation, which means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell one of the staff or volunteers, and preferably the Child Protection Officer or another Named Person, Amanda McCabe is the CWO at our club………..

What is Bullying?

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person.  Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

Bullying can be:

Emotional      being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding personal belongings, threatening gestures)

Physical         pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence

Racist             racial taunts, graffiti, gestures

Sexual           unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments

Homophobic because of, or focusing on the issues of sexuality

Verbal            name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing

Cyber[1]            All areas of the internet, such as email & internet chat room misuse, mobile threats by text messaging and calls, misuse of associated technology, i.e. camera and video facilities

Why is it important to respond to bullying?

Bullying hurts.  No one deserves to be a victim of bullying.  Everybody has the right to be treated with respect.  Children and young people who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving and may well have serious issues themselves, which affect their behaviour.

Beverley Braves RLFC  have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying, in order to carry out their duty of care to safeguard all children involved in Beverley Braves RLFC activities from harm.  All children have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account.

Policy aims

The aim of the Beverley Braves RLFC Anti-bullying Policy is to promote good practice and that:

  • All volunteers and paid staff, as well as children and young people should have an understanding of what bullying is
  • All volunteers and paid staff, as well as children and young people should know what the Beverley Braves RLFC   policy is on bullying and what they should do if bullying arises
  • As a group/organization we take bullying seriously.  Children and young people and their parents/carers should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported
  • Bullying will not be tolerated

Some of the Signs and Symptoms of Being Bullied

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied.  Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

  • Is frightened of coming to the group or participating in certain activities
  • Doesn’t want to go to the group/organization on their own
  • Changes their usual routine
  • Becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
  • Starts stammering
  • Attempts or threatens suicide or runs away
  • Cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
  • Feels ill before coming to the group/organization
  • Begins to behave negatively within the organisation
  • Comes home with clothes torn or personal possessions damaged or missing
  • Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
  • Has money that is continually ‘lost’
  • Has unexplained cuts or bruises
  • Comes home starving (money or lunch has been stolen)
  • Becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
  • Is bullying other children or siblings
  • Stops eating
  • Is frightened to say what’s wrong
  • Gives improbable excuses for any of the above
  • Is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone
  • Is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.

Procedures if bullying is suspected

If bullying is suspected, the following procedures should be:

  • Report bullying incidents to staff
  • In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff
  • In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem
  • If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted
  • The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
  • Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although you cannot promise to tell no-one else.
  • Keep records of what is said (what happened, by whom, when).
  • Report any concerns to the Beverley Braves RLFC Child Protection Officer or Named Person Amanda McCabe

An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour by:

  • Talk with the bully(ies), explain the situation, and try to get the bully(ies) to understand the consequences of their behaviour.  Seek an apology to the victim(s).
  • Inform the bully(ies)’s parents.
  • Insist on the return of ‘borrowed’ items and that the bully(ies) compensate the victim.
  • Impose sanctions as necessary.
  • Encourage and support the bully(ies) to change behaviour.
  • Hold meetings with the families to report on progress.
  • Inform all organisation members of action taken.
  • Keep a written record of action taken.
  • Look at supporting the bully(ies) with any issues they may have, link in with existing support services in your area

Outcomes

  • The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise and sometimes other consequences may take place
  • In serious cases, exclusion from the group/organization may be considered
  • If possible, the children and young people will be reconciled
  • After the incident/incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place

Prevention

We will use methods to help children and young people prevent bullying, as and when appropriate.  These may include:

  • Writing a set of Beverley Braves RLFC rules
  • Signing a behaviour contract
  • Using the creative arts such as: writing stories or poems, art, drama and music etc
  • Reading stories about bullying
  • Making up role-plays
  • Having discussions about bullying and why it matters

Support to deal with the aftermath of bullying

  • Consideration should be given to the kind of support that children, parents and members of staff or volunteers may need. 
  • Consideration should also be given to what kind of support may be appropriate for the alleged bully (ies)

Use of helplines, support groups and open meetings will maintain an open culture and help the healing process.  Some useful organizations are:

  • KIDSCAPE parents Helpline (Mon-Fri 10-4)      0845 1 205 204
  • Childline                                                                    0800 1111
  • Parentline Plus                                                        0808 800 2222
  • Youth Access                                                           020 8772 9900
  • Childline                                                        www.childline.org.uk
  • Bullying Online                                            www.bullying.co.uk
  • Kidscape                                                       www.kidscape.org.uk

For a copy of Kidscape’s free booklets “Stop Bullying”, “Preventing Bullying” and “You Can Beat Bullying”, send a large (A4) self-addressed envelope marked ‘Bully Pack’ with 6 first-class stamps to:

Kidscape

2 Grosvenor Gardens

LONDON

SW1 W 0DH

[1] For more information on Cyber-bullying visit www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying