🎯 Purpose
This resource is designed to help:
- Staff
- Parents/carers
- Friends
- Support workers
👉 Support people who may not be able to recognise, explain, or report bullying on their own
🚨 1. Understanding the Problem
Some people may struggle to get help because they:
- Find communication difficult
- Feel scared or ashamed
- Think the bullying is their fault
- Do not recognise what is happening as bullying
- Have been ignored before
👉 Bullying is intentional, repeated behaviour that causes harm or distress
👉 It can include:
- Name-calling
- Hitting or physical harm
- Being left out
- Being forced to do things
- Online abuse
👀 2. Signs Someone May Be Struggling (Even If They Don’t Say It)
Look for changes like:
- Becoming quiet or withdrawn
- Avoiding places or people
- Anxiety or fear
- Changes in behaviour or mood
- Unexplained injuries or missing belongings
- Not wanting to go to school, work, or activities
👉 Many people do not tell anyone straight away—so noticing signs is crucial.
🧩 3. Key Principle: “Don’t Wait to Be Told”
People who struggle to help themselves often need:
Someone else to notice, ask, and act
💬 4. How to Start the Conversation
✔ Use simple, safe questions:
- “Are you okay?”
- “Did something happen today?”
- “Is someone being unkind to you?”
✔ Give options:
- Talking
- Writing
- Drawing
- Using symbols or apps
👉 Some people may find it easier to write or draw what happened instead of speaking
🛠️ 5. Practical Ways to Help Someone Speak Up
📝 Method 1: Write it down
- Help them record what happened
-
Use simple prompts:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- How did it feel?
📦 Method 2: Safe reporting systems
- “Bully box” (anonymous reporting box)
- Digital reporting tools
- Trusted adult system
👉 These methods help when speaking feels too difficult
🤝 Method 3: Trusted person network
Help them identify:
- 1–3 safe people they can go to
Examples:
- Parent
- Teacher
- Support worker
- Friend
🧑🏫 6. What Adults and Support Staff Should Do
✔ Step 1: Take it seriously
- Always listen
- Never dismiss concerns
✔ Step 2: Reassure
- “This is not your fault”
- “You did the right thing telling me”
👉 People often feel shame or blame themselves
✔ Step 3: Record information
- Dates
- What happened
- Who was involved
✔ Step 4: Take action
- Report to safeguarding lead / management
- Put safety plans in place
- Monitor ongoing risk
✔ Step 5: Keep checking in
- Don’t assume it’s resolved
- Follow up regularly
🛡️ 7. Helping Someone Stay Safe
Support them to:
- Stay near safe people
- Avoid unsafe situations (short-term)
- Know how to get help quickly
👉 Safety always comes first.
🧠 8. Emotional Support Matters
People who are bullied may feel:
- Scared
- Confused
- Alone
- Ashamed
👉 Remind them:
- It is never their fault
- They are not alone
- Help is available
🧭 9. If Bullying Continues
If it does not stop:
- Escalate to management or safeguarding teams
- In serious cases, involve authorities
- Keep evidence (messages, notes, records)
👉 Evidence helps prove what is happening
📘 EASY READ VERSION
Helping Someone Who Is Being Bullied
💡 What is bullying?
Bullying is when someone:
- Is unkind again and again
- Hurts someone on purpose
⚠️ Some people may not ask for help
They may:
- Feel scared
- Not understand what is happening
- Find talking hard
👀 Signs to look for
- Quiet or upset
- Not wanting to go out
- Acting differently
💬 How to help
- Ask simple questions
- Listen carefully
- Be kind and calm
📝 Ways to help them tell someone
- Talk
- Write it down
- Draw a picture
🤝 Get help from others
Tell:
- Family
- Teacher
- Support worker
🌟 Important message
- It is not their fault
- Help is always available
🧭 TRAINING CHECKLIST (FOR STAFF & CARERS)
✔ Notice
- Watch for behaviour changes
✔ Ask
- Use simple, clear language
✔ Listen
- Do not interrupt or dismiss
✔ Record
- Write down details
✔ Act
- Follow safeguarding procedures
✔ Support
- Provide emotional reassurance
🧩 PRACTICAL TOOL: “HELP MODEL”
A simple framework you can include in your book:
H – Hear
Listen carefully
E – Encourage
Support them to speak or write
L – Log
Record what happened
P – Protect
Take action to keep them safe
📊 KEY MESSAGE
- Some people cannot easily ask for help
- Bullying often goes unreported
- Early intervention saves harm
- Simple communication methods are powerful
- Support must be active, not passive
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