CONTENTS:

 

1. Aim

 

1. Key Principles of best practice

 

1. What is Bullying – Our Definition

 

1. Who is Responsible for What

 

1. Our Procedures re Bullying Behaviour

 

1. Review

 

 

Appendices

 

1. Different types of Bullying

 

 

 

Aim of Policy:

Follow Your Dream is committed to the safety and well being of children.

The aim of this policy is:

• to create a safe environment for its members .

• to ensure that incidents of bullying will be dealt with consistently and in a fair manner by setting out procedures for dealing with such incidents.

• be committed to the following key principles of best practice in preventing and tackling bullying behaviour.

 

Key Principals of Best Practice:

Follow Your Dream recognises the very serious nature of bullying and the negative impact that it can have on the lives of young people and is therefore committed to the following key principles of best practice in preventing and tackling bullying behaviour:

 

A positive culture and climate which :

 

1. is welcoming of difference and diversity and is based on inclusivity;

 

1. encourages members to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviour in a non-threatening environment;

 

1. promotes respectful relationships across its membership.

 

• Effective leadership;

 

• A united approach;

 

• A shared understanding of what bullying is and its impact.

 

• Effective supervision and monitoring of members;

 

• Support for staff and volunteers;

 

• Consistent recording, investigation and follow up of bullying behaviour.

 

• On- going evaluation of the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy.

 

The Definition of Bullying

Bullying is unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time.

(Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post- Primary schools)

 

The following types of bullying behaviour are included in the definition of bullying:

 

• deliberate exclusion, malicious gossip and other forms of relational bullying, extortion, isolation, and persistent name calling.

 

• cyber bullying, and

 

• identity-based bullying such as homophobic bullying, racist bullying and bullying of those with disabilities or special needs.

 

Isolated or once off- incidents of intentional negative behaviour do not fall within the definition of bullying and should be dealt with, as appropriate, according as the need arises by staff or volunteers on duty at the time. Young people sign up to Follow Your Dream’s code of behaviour. (See appendix 9 FYD Child Protection Policy).

 

However, in the context of this policy, in the event of setting up a Facebook page, placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or statement on the Facebook  page  where that message, image or statement can be viewed and/or repeated by other people will be regarded as bullying behaviour.

 

Negative behaviour that does not meet this definition of bullying will be dealt with in accordance with this policy.

 

For additional information on different types of bullying see appendix 1.

 

This policy applies to meetings and events organised directly by Follow Your Dream:

 

• Re-launch meeting each year.

• Launch and Follow –Up meeting for new members.

• Trips

• Fun nights, for example; quiz and beetle drive nights.

• Social Media: Follow your Dream Website and Facebook Page.

 

Parents /Guardians and young people involved in Follow Your Dream are made aware that they must abide by the Child Protection Policy and all other policies of the organisation that the young person is involved in( For example their sports club policies on child protection, health and safety, anti-bullying etc).

All reports/ complaints and health and safety issues while attending another organisation (the Child’s/ Young Persons Activity) should be made directly to that organisation.

 

If a parent/guardian feels that their concerns are not being listened to they can liaise with Follow Your Dream.

 

Who is responsible for doing what

Anti- Bullying Coordinators:

Gemma Beggan (Project Co-ordinator)

Ruth Scanlon (Committee Chairperson)

 

Fiona Mullarkey

Website

 

Ruth Scanlon

Facebook Page (In the event of setting this up)

 

Mary Johnston/Jackie Keane

Child Protection Designated Liaison Person/Deputy Designated Liaison Person

 

The Anti- Bullying Committee

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed by this committee once a year.

As of November 2016, its members are: Gemma Beggan, Ruth Scanlon, Valerie Kennedy and Suzanne Perkins.

 

 

 

Our Procedures for Dealing with Bullying

Follow Your Dream’s procedures for investigation, follow –up and recording of bullying behaviour and the established interventions strategies used by Follow Your Dream for dealing with cases of bullying behaviour are as follows:

 

Since the failure to report bullying can lead to a continuation or a deterioration of bullying, Follow Your Dream and parents encourage children and young people to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviour. This can be with any of the staff/ volunteers. Children and young people will be constantly assured that their reports of bullying either for themselves or peers will be treated with sensitivity.

 

1. An incident of bullying behaviour will be noted and recorded by any of the staff/ volunteers.

(See appendix 4 FYD Child Protection Policy).

 

1. The incident will be investigated- what, who, when, where.

 

1. An effort will be made to resolve any issues and to restore as far as practicable, the relationships.

 

1. The staff member/volunteer will exercise professional judgement to determine whether bullying has occurred and as to how it can be resolved.

 

1. Parents/guardians are required to cooperate with any investigation.

 

1. If a group is involved, they will meet both individually and as a group where it is appropriate and safe to do so.  Each member will be asked for his/her account of what happened to ensure that everyone is clear about what everyone said. This account will be recorded. ( Restorative Practice)

 

1. The alleged “bully” will be asked to reflect on his/her behaviour and its consequences for himself/herself and for the person who is the victim. (Restorative Practice).

 

1. Members who are not directly involved can also provide very useful information in this way, and will be expected to assist the investigation.

 

1. Members should understand that there are no innocent bystanders if they remain passive where bullying is concerned- all bystanders must report bullying.

 

1. Parents will be made aware of this behaviour and requested to come and discuss it with the chairperson with a view to solving the problem. If necessary the aggressor will be asked to sign an undertaking that “this behaviour will not reoccur.”

 

1. The situation will continue to be monitored as far as is possible to ensure that the problem has been resolved. ( At meetings, trips and events organised by FYD).

 

1. If the case remains unresolved the matter will be referred to the Follow Your Dream Anti Bullying Committee (Committee Sub Group CPP), who will be briefed in relation to the case and the action taken to date. If necessary they will also consult with the designated person as to the best course of action.

 

1. The parents/guardians child/young person will be informed of their decision.

 

1. Follow your Dream reserves the right to suspend/cease membership of any of its members at any time they deem it to be necessary.

 

DEALING WITH AN ISSUE OF BULLYING

Immediate intervention:

Attempt to resolve the matter in an informal manner:

• Speak to those involved without labelling

• Seek to immediately rectify the matter if possible

• Take a common sense approach

 

Formal Response:

When an immediate intervention fails to resolve the situation it should be dealt with by FYD Anti Bullying Committee (Committee Sub Group CPP).

as a breach of the code of behaviour (See appendix 9 of Follow Your Dream’s Child Protection Policy).

 

• Confidentiality must be maintained

•  FYD Anti Bullying Committee to assess the situation, using a common sense approach

• Identify the Bullying behaviour by asking the following questions:

 

1. Target: Is the behaviour targeted at a group or an individual?

2. Duration: Has the behaviour been happening over a period of time?

3. Frequency: How frequent is the behaviour and is there a pattern occurring?

4. Intention: Is the intention of the behaviour to cause pain/harm/distress to an individual or group?

 

 

 

 

 

This policy has been made available to FYD’S Committee and published on FYD’s website.

 

 

Review of this Policy

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed by the Anti Bullying committee once a year.

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed by the Board of Directors once a year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Different Types of Bullying

 

VERBAL BULLYING: can leave children and young people feeling angry, frightened and powerless. If they are unable to share their feelings with someone else, verbal bullying can leave them emotionally bruised and physically exhausted. Their powers of concentration can suffer, adversely affecting their capacity for learning. Verbal attacks can be of a highly personal sexual nature. They can be directed at the child’s or young person’s family, culture, race or religion. Malicious rumours are particularly insidious forms of verbal abuse.

 

PHYSICAL BULLYING: often written off as “horseplay”, “pretend” or “just a game” when challenged. While children can and do play roughly, in the case of bullying be aware that these “games” can be a precursor to vicious physical assaults. Both boys and girls indulge in physical bullying, boys perhaps more so as they have a greater tendency towards physical aggression.

 

GESTURE BULLYING: there are many different forms of non-verbal threatening gestures which can convey intimidatory and frightening messages, for example gesturing a gun to a head or gesturing slitting a throat.

 

EXCLUSION BULLYING: this is particularly hurtful because it isolates the child or young person from his/her peer group and it is very hard for the child or young person to combat as it directly attacks their self-confidence and self-esteem.

 

EXTORTATION BULLYING: younger children are particularly vunerable to extortion bullying. Demands for money, possessions, equipment etc. may be made, often accompanied by threats. Children or young people may also be dared or forced to steal from others leaving them at the mercy of the bully and open to fyrther intimidation.

 

E-BULLYING: in an ever-more technologically advanced world, a new strain of bullying has emerged amongst children and young people, which utilised web pages, e-mails and text messages to abuse, intimidate and attack others, either directly or indirectly(for example rumour mongering).

( Taken from “Bullying at School: Key Facts” by the Anti Bullying Centre, Trinity College Dublin 2001)

 

CYBER BULLYING: is bullying that takes place using electronic devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers and tablet as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat and websites. ( https//www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/)

 

 

Appendix 4: INCIDENT REPORT FORM (Follow Your Dream Child Protection Policy).

 

Appendix 9: Code of Behaviour for Young People (Follow Your Dream Child Protection Policy).

 

 

 CONTACTS

 

If you are a child or a parent of a child who has been affected by cyberbullying, Barnardos can help visit; Resources and advice-cyberbullying page for a list of resources from free publications to expert speakers.

www.barnardos.ie/cyberbullying