National Stand Up To Bullying Day

If you have ever suffered at the hands of a bully, or if your child is having to go through bullying then you will know what an awful experience it can be. A new campaign has been launched urging everyone to challenge bullies in every walk of life and today has been named the first National Stand Up To Bullying Day.

The campaign is being headed by the Duke Of Cambridge as it was set up by The Diana Award charity, in memory of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

In a video message released today he has urged everyone to challenge bullying behaviour. William warned that bullying is not just confined to the playground or classroom and can affect anyone regardless of age, background, gender, sexuality, race, disability or religion.

The Duke said it was "our collective responsibility to be alert, and to be ready to challenge the behaviour we see around us". He added: "We all have a role to play to ensure that we do not stand by, but instead stand up, and put a stop to bullying."

The campaign says that more than 16,000 young people in the UK are absent from school each year due to bullying, and warns that adults are affected as well. Research by YouGov commissioned by the Stand Up To Bullying campaign has shown that 81 per cent of people questioned reported that bullying was commonplace in school, with 64 per cent believing it is widespread throughout society, and 56 per cent reporting that bullying is commonplace at work.

Recognising the scale of the issue is important, as is encouraging people to challenge bullying behaviour when they see it, and giving the person being bullied your support.

The campaign website can be found at www.standuptobullying.co.uk, but the website has crashed as people try to get on board with the campaign. They are encouraging people to make their own individual pledge to help stop bullying, and it's massively encouraging that so many people are getting involved.

If you or your child has any issues with bullying you can find help and advice on what to do on the NSPCC website here. It covers advice on cyber bullying as well as bullying in schools and lots of resources to help both parents and children.

You can also find the official government advice on what parents and carers can do to stop bullying on the Children's Commissioner website here.