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Anti-bullying policy

Created: August 2020 by Jenny Owen

Last Reviewed/Updated: Reviewed and approved by Nancy Monaghan 12/08/2020

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Policy Statement

Wild Things Performing Arts CIC acknowledges that bullying behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We endeavour to ensure that a secure environment is provided for everyone who wishes to participate in the performing arts. Wild Things Performing Arts CIC acknowledges that bullying can take place and may need to be addressed amongst any combination of persons that are present at Wild things Performing Arts, regardless of their role: participant, volunteer, or staff. 

Wild Things Performing Arts CIC’s Anti Bullying Policy is readily available, with contact details for confidential support:

Chief Executive and Designated Safeguarding Person: Nancy Monaghan
Mobile: 07891 908912 
Email: wildthingsdrama@hotmail.co.uk

Definition of Bullying

Bullying is any intentional behaviour which hurts another person physically or emotionally. Bullying results in the victim feeling sad, scared or isolated.

Bullying can be: 

  • Emotional – treating people in an unfriendly way, excluding people from groups, tormenting people, hiding or taking belongings, threatening gestures, trying to get people into trouble, written insults or threats.
  • Verbal – name calling, sarcasm, rumour-spreading, teasing.
  • Physical – pushing, kicking, hitting, punching, spitting, tripping up, pinching etc.
  • Sexual – unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
  • Cyber – misuse of technology in a way that is hurtful to others.  This includes threatening, insulting, excluding or tormenting people through social networking sites/apps, text messaging, email or phone calls.  It also includes uploading photos or video footage of a person without their permission.
  • Prejudice – behaviour or language that makes a person feel unwelcome or marginalised based on actual or perceived difference(s) in appearance, behaviour, or personal circumstance.
  • Disablist – targeting, or focussing on, a person’s disability or additional need.
  • Gender-based – targeting, or focussing on, a person’s gender or the fact they don’t conform to a masculine or feminine stereotype.
  • Homophobic – targeting, or focussing on, a person’s actual or perceived sexuality.
  • Racist – targeting, or focussing on, a person’s race, ethnicity or culture.
  • Religious – targeting, or focussing on, a person’s religion

Implementation

Wild Things Performing Arts CIC’ artistic team oversees the implementation and review of the Anti-Bullying Policy. 

Wild Things Performing Arts will provide appropriate awareness raising and training to all relevant staff and volunteers to reinforce this policy and to provide skills and techniques to counter bullying behaviour. All staff and volunteers should be informed of what to do when an incident of bullying is reported. 

Procedures

  1. Incidents should be reported to staff and subsequently to the Chief Executive, Nancy Monaghan (or the deputy in her absence).
  2. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly.
  3. Incidents will be recorded by staff, using the Bullying Incident Report Form.
  4. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour.
  5. In serious cases, parents should be informed and will be asked to visit to discuss the problem.
  6. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted.

Outcomes

  1. The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise and other consequences may take place.
  2. If possible, the participants will be reconciled.
  3. In very serious cases, suspension or exclusion could be considered.
  4. After the incident(s) have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored in striving to ensure repeated bullying does not take place

Monitoring and Record Keeping

  • All incidents should, ideally, be written up within 24 hours, using the Bullying Incident Report Form.
  • Reports should be signed by the staff member/volunteer, with the name printed and designation. 
  • Reports should be passed to Chief Executive, who in turn will take responsibility for the safe storage and processing of this information.
  • All information gathered should be treated with strict confidentiality.

Evaluation

Records of incidents are kept and used to inform future practice. Evaluation and review will ensure that Wild Things Performing Arts CIC remains responsible to changing needs whilst striving to protect our students/participants from bullying. 

What We Intend to Achieve

Our Anti-Bullying Policy aims to achieve a reduction in bullying due to: 

  • The vigilance and responsiveness of staff and volunteers to bullying behaviour.
  • Acknowledgment by young people that bullying will be tackled.
  • Raised awareness about bullying and the forms it can take.
  • A greater proportion of students/participants informing an adult if they are being bullied.
  • The involvement of staff, volunteers, parents/guardians and students/participants in implementing the Anti-Bullying Policy