Sutton Council backs Anti-Bullying Week

Councillors raise awareness of bullying at school and in the workplace for Anti-Bullying Week.

The move coincides with the ‘Choose Respect’ campaign organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, for Anti-bullying week from November 12th 2018.

Councillors unanimously agreed a series of measures at Full Council on Monday night.

The nine pledges included adopting the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s definition of 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 online’.

Leader of Sutton Council, Cllr Ruth Dombey, said: “We must all lead by example, and I’m proud that we as a council are in a position to do something positive like this.”

Councillors will be invited to sign a pledge which will then be displayed on their official website profiles to show that we take bullying seriously and are determined to stand up for our communities.

The pledge reads:  “I back the Anti-Bullying Alliance and pledge to ‘Choose Respect’, reject bullying and lead by example in my actions and interactions as a councillor.”

Trades Union Congress (TUC) research has revealed nearly a third of people have been bullied at their workplace. Nearly half of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people have been bullied at school for being LGBT.

The motion agreed by councillors included asking the borough schools to draw up their own anti-bullying pledge in collaboration with their students.

Council staff and councillors will also be encouraged to take up anti bullying training as part of a borough wide awareness campaign.

Other pledges were:

* agreeing that “bullying in any form, by any group or individual, in any walk of life, is unacceptable

* joining the UK-wide Anti-Bullying Alliance, which already comprises over 140

* organisations and individuals

a review to support external helplines and groups such as Childline, ACAS, Citizens Advice Bureau, Bullying UK, and others.

The motion was moved by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Chris Williams, and seconded by Councillor Jenny Batt.