Herne Hill Youth Cycling Club

Our Anti-bullying policy 

Safe and happy cyclists

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HHYCC recognises that:

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• bullying is “behaviour, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group, physically or emotionally”. [Safe from bullying in youth activities, DCSF 2009.]

• one person or a group can bully others

• bullying can occur either face to face between individuals or groups or online, using

• information technology, such as computers or mobile phones

• bullying can include:

  • verbal teasing or making fun of someone;

  • excluding children from games and conversations;

  • pressurising other children not to be friends with the person who is being bullied;

  • spreading hurtful rumours or passing round inappropriate photographs/images/drawings

  • shouting at or verbally abusing someone;

  • stealing or damaging someone’s belongings;

  • making threats;

  • forcing someone to do something embarrassing, harmful or dangerous;

  • harassment on the basis of race, gender, sexuality or disability;

  • physical or sexual assault (although all sexual incidents and all but very minor physical

  • incidents constitute abuse and must be dealt with in accordance with child protection

  • procedures)

• bullying causes real distress. It can affect a person’s health and development and, at the extreme, can cause significant harm

• people are often targeted by bullies because they appear different from others

• we all have a role to play in preventing bullying and putting a stop to bullying.

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The purpose of this policy is:

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• to prevent bullying from happening in our organisation, as much as possible

• when bullying does happen, to make sure it is stopped as soon as possible and that those involved receive the support they need

• to provide information to all staff, volunteers, children and their families about what we

• should all do to prevent and deal with bullying.

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We will seek to prevent bullying by:

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• Having a code of behaviour that sets out the “dos” and “don’ts” in terms of how everyone involved in HHYCC is expected to behave, both in face-to-face contact and online

• eveloping a new members’ welcome policy that will help HHYCC to attract members from diverse groups

• Having regular updates with coaches, volunteers, children, young people and families who use HHYCC to ensure that they understand our anti-bullying policy. Reminding everyone:

  • group members’ responsibilities to look after one another and uphold the behaviour code

  • practising skills such as listening to each other

  • respecting the fact that we are all different

  • making sure that no one is without friends

  • dealing with problems in a positive way

  • checking that the anti-bullying measures are working well.

• Making sure that coaches, volunteers, children and young people, and parents and carers
  have clear information about our anti-bullying policy, complaints procedure, code of behaviour
  and anti-bullying procedure.

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When bullying occurs, we will respond to it by:

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• Having a clear anti-bullying procedure in place

• Providing support and training for all coaches and volunteers on dealing with all forms

• of bullying, including racial, sexist, homophobic and sexual bullying

• Addressing the issue from the point of view of the person being bullied, the bully,

• any bystanders and HHYCC as a whole

• Reviewing the plan developed to address the bullying, in order to ensure that the

• problem has been resolved

• Avoiding any punishments that make the individuals concerned seem small, or look

• or feel foolish in front of others.

 

The Club Welfare Officer is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of this policy.

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