Alexandra Worsley
Anti-bullying Campaign
The plan to stop bullying in schools...
My story, Alexandra Worsley:
At school I was bullied. All the way through this chapter in my life I really suffered, girls saying and doing things that really upset me. It was so hard that a lot of the pain i have blocked out, I dreaded going to school every morning. I became a victim "why me" "poor me" and internalized everything, really beat myself up about it for years and years. It became a pattern and part of my character. The impact on me was being afraid to speak up, low confidence and self esteem. I went into a career caring for people, really getting and empathising with the pain and suffering of stress and emotional upheaval. Really wanting to support and make a difference in their lives so that they had somewhere to turn to, a safe space to be, which would be there for them if they needed it.
I have grown in confidence, it has come with age but i was still coming up against a lack of belief in myself, I found it was still holding me back. Recently, i decided to find the courage to face what happened in my past and confront it and take responsibility for what happened.
I called and spoke to the girl I saw as my enemy.
What came out of this was the realisation that she was suffering too, and if only I had had that knowledge and the tools to do something about it at the time, I could have prevented the impact it had in both my life and her life.
We now both have come together to do something about this. We have rebuilt a friendship and would like to share our passion to make a difference to others so they don't have to go through what we did.
How great would it be to know you had the support and tools to deal with it, whether you're a parent or a child.
So we would like your help. We would like to interview and talk confidentially to anyone who would like to work with us on this.
We have a plan.
MISSION STATEMENT
It is evident that whilst the national curriculum may assist children with achieving their educational goals, there are a number of other life skills which children need but simply do not have access to within the formal schooling arena.
As a result, it is evident that a number of critical issues arise in children at an early age which if not tackled immediately can lead to deep seated problems later in life. Bullying, substance abuse and eating disorders are just some of the issues which children face on a day to day basis.
To this end, our plan seeks to provide children as individuals in their own right with effectively a “one stop shop” of modern, fresh and easily accessible tools to equip them with life at school and further afield.
Our ultimate goal is to empower children and give them the confidence to fulfil and exceed their potential.
FACTS
Statistics from the anti-bullying campaign state that 28.8% of children report having been being bullied in school in the last year (of those 23% bullied most days, 11% bullied every day). 21% bullied outside of school (a quarter of these in the last four weeks).
While the majority of schools are working hard to tackle bullying, over a quarter of children that took part in the survey reported that schools deal not very well or badly with bullying. (Tellus 4 National Report, DCSF Research Report 218, DCSF 2010)
If this article inspired you and you want to know more please email me alex@alexandraworsley.com
I am inspired to share this story, my message and commitment to make a difference for the children and young adults at school now, and hope to provide a tool and strategy so these young people, our future generation, do not have to go through what I went through. I want to show them that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Let's REALLY stop bullying in schools NOW!
