Annual Review
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2012 Annual Review SPEAKING UP HELPING CHILDREN TO FIND A VOICE Let’s speak UP AGAINST BULLYING For 27 years, Kidscape has been a voice for bullied children. We have spoken up in the media and in the political arena, and we have trained teachers and youth workers to spot the signs of bullying and take effective action. But most importantly of all, we have helped countless children and their parents to find their own voices: to speak up with confidence and begin to reverse the impact that bullies have had on their daily experience. It’s vital work that changes lives – and sometimes, saves them. Read on to find out how we do it, why we need more funding and what you can do to help. Table of contents A letter from the Director 3 Introducing Kidscape 4 Breaking the silence: Why our work matters 6 Finding a voice: Our workshops 8 Someone to talk to: Our helplines 10 Learning to listen: Our training courses 12 Spreading the word: Kidscape in the media 14 Advocacy 15 Fundraising 16 How you can help 17 Financial information 18 Thanks 19 Page 2 A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR In this very busy and challenging year it has been my privilege to meet a large number of children and young people whose lives have been transformed by Kidscape’s work. We have fought to maintain Our Department for Education our vision of a world free from a high profile, and have supported Bullying Intervention bullying and abuse. What is continued to speak out for Training is being rolled out certain is that we could not the thousands of beneficiaries across England thanks to the transform so many lives, and we work with through our hard work of dedicated trainers provide such a vital voice for training programmes, helplines, who will have equipped 30,000 children without the dedication online resources and media young people with vital life and hard work of our wonderful presence. The ongoing very skills by the end of March Patrons, Ambassadors, difficult economic climate, 2013. We were also delighted Trustees, staff, volunteers and the impact of the misuse to secure funding from the ‘Big supporters. Our achievements of social networking sites, Lottery’ to run an innovative in these difficult times are the continuing growth of intervention, which aims to only possible because of cyber bullying as well as the divert young people from anti- their tireless commitment to grooming of young people by social behaviour and reduced Kidscape’s mission. To all online predators are only some life chances. Much hard work those who have helped us do of the challenges that our is taking place in preparation so much this year, thank you services strive to combat. for the launch of this from the bottom of my heart. If, At the heart of Kidscape’s programme from which over when reading this review, you mission remains the 6000 young people will benefit. feel that you may be able to determination to provide We are buoyed up by the fact support our work, I would be children, young people, and all that through such work we are delighted to talk to you further. those who work with them with addressing the physical and Thank you. a voice and an active listening emotional torment of bullying, ear. To this end our young helping individuals to fulfil their people’s confidential helpline, potential, leading to improved Youth2Youth continues to attainment, confidence, and a provide vital support for those sense of community in schools who experience emotional and other settings. difficulties, and who may feel During the past year that they have nowhere else to Kidscape’s voice has gained turn. We will strive to secure an increasing presence on the the funding to continue this new media platforms such as vital listening service, which Facebook and Twitter, which has now grown to include has made us more accessible, Skype. Our parents’ anti- has widened our appeal and bullying helpline has continued has helped us to network, and to provide a lifeline to those to extend our campaigns to whose children’s lives are being keep children safe. compromised by the cruelty of Over the last 27 years others. Kidscape’s listening ear Kidscape has sought to keep and the consistently effective the safety of children at the advice and support offered by heart of its work. We never our trained advisors brings light fail to be inspired by the into tunnels of despair on a young people and families we daily basis. support, and humbled by the impact that we are able to make on their lives. Knowing this drives us on to achieve Page 3 INTRODUCING KIDSCAPE Founded in 1985, Kidscape is the UK’s most established anti-bullying charity. We are a small organisation with influence far beyond our size – in part because we work hard to share our insights and techniques with other organisations and individuals all over the world. Vision Kidscape believes that all children should be able to grow up in a world free from bullying and abuse, and that all adults should keep children safe and help them to reach their full potential. Mission The mission of Kidscape is to ensure children live in a safe and nurturing environment. By providing training, support and advice to children, parents, schools and those in professional contact with young people, we enable them to gain knowledge and develop the confidence and skills to challenge abuse and bullying in all its forms. Values Our values are based on the beliefs that: • all children have the right to lead their lives free from bullying and abuse • all adults have a responsibility to support, nurture and care for children enabling them to reach their full potential • all children should have the opportunity and confidence to report bullying and abuse • bullying and abuse in all forms are not acceptable and should not be tolerated • children, confidentiality and trust are at the heart of everything we do Page 4 WHAT WE DO “When I came back at the end Our work at Kidscape falls into six main categories: of the day I couldn’t believe the transformation. The room full of • Workshops for children harder, and making every anxious, wary, withdrawn children and their parents, teaching penny go further. For example, had been replaced by children who proven techniques to build the proportion of our income were talking nineteen-to-the-dozen, self confidence, stay safe that went directly towards our and respond to bullying in charitable activities rose from laughing and full of enthusiasm. practical ways that bring it to 77% in 2010 -11 to 81% in the I’ve never seen anything like that a swift end. year under review. happen in such a short time – it was so lovely to see.” • Helplines for children and The people we help are from their parents and carers, every age group: children Parent of workshop participant, 2011 offering on-the-spot support and young people from 6 to and advice when it’s needed 19, concerned parents and most urgently. grandparents, teachers and carers. And they come from • Information and advice every background and every on dealing with bullying and part of the country: from related problems, freely inner-London comprehensives available to schools, families and from public schools; from and children. rural villages and from major • Training in best practice cities. The children we work approaches to bullying for with aren’t all being bullied teachers, youth workers and – some of them are bullies child protection professionals themselves, and need help to in the UK and internationally. stop. Whatever the situation, • Advocacy – working with we listen without judgement Government and other and offer sound advice based organisations to ensure that on years of experience and the concerns for safeguarding counsel of some of the most children are high on the experienced and respected national agenda psychologists in the field. • M edia engagement to raise “I was very impressed by how awareness and dispel myths thougthfully the workshop had been about bullying and child protection among the planned, and how right from the general public beginning it was about engaging the young people and using their own We raise funds from individual ideas and skills. The feedback form and corporate donors, trusts and foundations, and public at the end said it all - children going and statutory bodies to from feeling zero at the start of the enable us to continue this vital day to 10 at the end!” work. Last year, Kidscape Family therapist who attended ZAP spent just over £600,000, of in January 2012 which 19% was dedicated to further fundraising activities. In the current tough economic climate, where public spending is in decline and donors of all kinds are giving less, we need more support than ever. We are responding to the challenge by working even Page 5 BREAKING THE SILENCE Page 6 ANSWering a ‘crY FOR Help’ In April this year, a concerned mother contacted Kidscape when her daughter’s problems with bullies at school reached crisis point. Her upsetting email reached our ZAP manager, Linda Frost. “Phoebe” drank nail polish remover yesterday – a cry for help regarding the bullying - and was taken to hospital by ambulance. We are all deeply shocked as you can imagine, especially as we are a very close family. I am writing out of Bullies thrive on silence. They assume that fear will keep their targets from desperation to ask for telling on them – and very often, they’re right. some advice.” Linda was able to send a long and reassuring list of advice and tips to “Phoebe’s” mother, helping her to deal with the school and be strong for her daughter.