In support of Anti-bullying Week 2020 and the charity Bullies Out, Queenswood girls and staff proudly wore their odd socks on Monday. Wearing odd socks is a great way to celebrate how we are all different and unique, and to raise awareness around the issues of bullying.

As well as giving to this cause via the Go Fund Me page set up by our Wellbeing and Charity Prefects, Lara P-L and Hannah K, girls also brought donations into school. As we go to print, this admirable effort has raised over £400.

If you would like to, you can still contribute to Queenswood's fundraising effort here.

Lara P-L shares her thoughts and advice regarding bullying in her role as Wellbeing Prefect.

"Have you ever been bullied? Do you remember someone calling you unkind names, mocking your choice in clothes, or spreading rumours about you?  Negative words and comments can stay with us. Do you ever wonder why the bully did it, what provoked the meanness and why you were the target? It’s never your fault and if you’re still experiencing this now, I’m here to help.

People can be destructive, damaging and unkind, when really we should all be coming together and supporting each other. We’ve not come this far to then turn against one another! For some, bullying can be a means of gaining popularity or taking out their own internal unhappiness on you. They may have feelings of anger or jealousy which affect their behaviour.

Bullies can work tactically. They may do this by deliberately excluding or alienating others or by spreading rumours or lies about them, either physically or electronically. They may belittle others in the hope of hiding their own insecurities and even encourage others to bully in the same way. It makes you question, what does someone gain from making another person’s life miserable?

Well, very often the bullies who appear threatening and act in such a hurtful way, harbour their own underlying insecurities. When you think about it, it’s really quite simple! Beneath their harsh exterior they’re either frustrated, dissatisfied with their own lives or crying out for help themselves. They attack rather than dealing with their own insecurities. 

There are steps that we can all take to help those who are being affected by bullying. Let’s all have the courage to stand up to unkindness and not stand passively by if we witness any. Let’s look out for each other! Maybe move to sit with someone at lunch who is sitting alone or ask someone new to walk with you to the next lesson and check in on your friends to see how they are doing. If we all look out for each other and work on being actively kind to those being left out, we can have a big impact on our community.

If you are being bullied or know that someone else is being bullied, please don’t bottle it up. Speak to someone at school or at home and remember that I’m here for you too."

Remember it is important to ask for help if you need it. You can always talk to the School Counsellor, the Chaplain or any adult at school. The Young Minds website also has helpful information – you can find the website here.