Blackpool Beating Bullying

How it started...

The Blackpool Beating Bullying campaign was developed in 2018. On our HeadStart summer residential the young people decided what 3 topics they thought needed some development in Blackpool in order to be tackled on a co-productive level where everyone could work together to make the town a better place for all. A focus group of young people and staff came together to discuss what it is about bullying that needs to change in order to be prevented. From this working alongside other professionals, parents/carers and people of all walks of life we developed a charter mark which held expectations of what schools across Blackpool should be doing in order to prevent bullying from happening.

Bronze Level

14 Schools awarded Bronze!

Silver Level

6 Schools awarded Silver!

Gold Level

None as yet...it could be you!

Schools that achieved the Bronze Award:

Anchorsholme Academy

Devonshire Primary Academy

Mereside Primary

St John's CofE

St John Vianney

Westminster

Montgomery Academy

South Shore Academy

St Mary's Catholic Academy

Armfield Academy

Educational Diversity

Park Community Academy

Westcliff Primary Academy

St Kentigern's Catholic Academy

Schools that achieved the Silver Award:

Montgomery Academy

Educational Diversity

Devonshire Primary

St John's C of E Primary

South Shore Academy

Mereside Primary Academy

What makes this campaign different to anything else you school has tried regarding bullying?

“The campaign is all about the students and works with them to make sure that policies and strategies are clear and fit with the ‘reality’- they constantly review and come up with ideas of changes that make a difference and the process of asking all stakeholders makes such a difference, involving, students, parents, staff and governors sounds really simple but it keeping them up to date and in the loop really supports the process and the message of tackling bullying effectively.”

What does you school think the significance of this campaign is within Blackpool?

“It’s really changed the mindset of students and staff and made it really clear. No longer is it a policy that hasn’t been read. Its accessible and for everyone, involving everyone. Victims can see the process clearly and know how they will be supported. Student s have a group of young people that can support and mentor them really making a difference.”

Elizabeth Cummings- Montgomery Academy, 2021

What makes it unique?

This charter mark had so much hard work, dedication and resilience put into it to make it what it is today. Some areas of it were harder to create than others because we knew as a group what needed to change but we never knew how to do it. The Blackpool Beating Bullying charter mark became the first co-produced charter mark in the UK which speaks volumes on its own. However, we have since gone on to realise to the best of our knowledge this could be the first co-produced charter mark in the world where individuals of all occupations, ages and lived experience have been part of the process from the very first decision of going forward with this as a campaign!

How to apply...

We have a very easy application process:

Please contact blackpoolbeatingbullying@blackpool.gov.uk for a booklet with the criteria for assessment
Look at what you already do and think about how much you need to develop to gain the Charter Mark; fill on the booklet as you go along
When you feel you're ready to apply contact us again and we'll set up an initial meeting
We'll send you out questionnaires for your school community who have 2 weeks to complete them
2 Weeks later when the window closes for responses we'll take 2 weeks to collate the evidence
We'll contact you to let you know if you've been successful first time or if you have further areas to develop
You can be reassessed if necessary
When the criteria is reached you'll be awarded your Charter Mark!