Even the most severely bullied child can, with the help of their family, school and community, learn how to block the bullies and thrive. At Kidscape we have been working for over 30 years with such children, many of whom have a range of special educational needs. We know that children with SEN and disabilities are very vulnerable to bullying. Research also indicates that 15 year olds with SEN statements were significantly more likely to be frequent victims of threats or acts of violence, even when other factors that increase the risk of bullying were taken into account.
Through our programmes and workshops we give children and young people across the ability range the tools to work their own transformation. We have found that key principles apply to all groups of learners, so our work is centred on teaching effective strategies within a supportive context, which takes into account the individual needs of the participants and the lessons to be learnt from careful evaluation procedures.
Our major projects include ZAP assertiveness training workshops for severely bullied children aged 9-16 who work in age appropriate bands. These are now in their 16th year and they have turned around the lives of hundreds of children. Thanks to funding from the Big Lottery we have been able to expand the project from our London base to the Midlands and the North-East of England. Parents sign their children up to these free one-day sessions in the hope that they will be given the confidence to deal with the severe bullying that in too many cases has driven them to depression, an inability to engage with academic tasks, school refusal, and most harrowingly, attempted suicide.
Our trainers deploy great skill in the first part of the ZAP session to build up the children’s self-esteem and confidence before using a variety of exercises and role plays to explore ways of dealing with bullying and developing the communication of feelings.
The ‘Kidscape toolbox’ is at the heart of ZAP as it empowers children and young people to develop the core skills to prevent and tackle bullying. These are listed below as they provide a cohesive thread through our work with all our beneficiaries:
1. Assertive body language and eye contact: Understanding the importance of non-verbal communication is vital to help participants become more assertive and able to confidently address bullying situations. Participants are encouraged to look at their own body language including eye contact and are supported to make changes to become more assertive.