Bullying

Bullying is about causing other people harm or hurt. Bullying is about power. A bully will try to make him|herself feel more powerful by picking on other people. Bullies may pick on people becuase they are younger, have low self-esteem or are just different in some way, such as race, religion or age.

Bullying can take place anywhere - at home, at school, at work, at drama groups, at sports groups or anywhere else. It can sometimes happen when you are learning to do something new such as learning to speak a foreign language, ride a bicycle, play a sport, perform in public.

Physical violence

Physical abuse includes hitting, kicking, puching, destroying belongings and using a weapon against another person. Threatening somebody with physical violence is also sometimes used to bully someone into doing things they don't want to or handing over pocket money or belongings.

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Sexual violence

Sexual violence includes invading another person's space, or touching someone in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Underlying these actions is the threat that the behaviour will lead to sexual abuse or rape.

In some situations, where a child is being abused, there may be a threat that another child could be harmed if the first child tells somebody about the abuse.

Nobody has the right to abuse you or any member of your family.

Emotional violence

All types of bullying include some form of emotional violence. Bullying is about power.

A bully may call you names, comment on your looks, your clothes, your family, your religion or anything that he|she thinks could make you feel bad while making him|her feel important.

A bully may try to make try to hurt you and destroy your self-esteem by making comments if you are not very good at something - such as sport or reading out loud.

A bully may pretend to be your friend and then threaten to tell other people about something secret that you have told them in confidence.