Stoke Mandeville Junior Football Club are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our members so they can participate in football in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all club members or parents should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively by the club's committee.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

Bullying can be:

• Emotional being unfriendly, excluding (emotionally and physically), sending hurtful text.
• messages and tormenting, (e.g. hiding football boots/shin guards, threatening gestures).
• Physical pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence.
• Racist racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.
• Sexual unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
• Homophobic because of or focussing on the issue of sexuality.
• Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing.

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?

Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Individuals who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.
• All club members, coaches, officials and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
• All club members, officials and coaching staff should know what the club policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• All players and parents should know what the club policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• Bullying will not be tolerated at Stoke Mandeville Junior Football Club.

Procedures

Report bullying incidents to the Club Welfare Officer Tracy Farrow-Stevenson or a member of the club's committee or contact the County FA Welfare Officer.
In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be referred to the County FA Welfare
Officer for advice and possibly to The FA Case Management Team.
If necessary and appropriate, the police will be consulted.
The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying
stopped quickly.

Signs and Indicators:
A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

• says he or she is being bullied.
• is unwilling to go to club sessions.
• becomes withdrawn anxious or lacking in confidence.
• feels ill before training sessions.
• comes home with clothes torn or training equipment damaged.
• has possessions go “missing”.
• asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay the bully).
• has unexplained cuts or bruises.
• is frightened to say what’s wrong.
• gives improbable excuses for any of the above.
In more extreme cases
• starts stammering.
• cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares.
• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable.
• is bullying other children or siblings.
• stops eating.
• attempts or threatens suicide or runs away.

These signs and behaviours may indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.

Recommended Club action:
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If the Club decides it is appropriate for them to deal with the situation, they will follow the procedure outlined below:

1. Reconciliation by getting the parties together. It may be that a genuine apology solves the problem.
2. If this fails/not appropriate a small panel (made up from Chairman, Club Welfare Officer, Secretary, Committee Members) should meet with the parent and child alleging bullying to get details of the allegation. Minutes should be taken for clarity, which should be agreed by all as a true account.
3. If bullying has in their view taken place the individual should be warned and put on notice of further action i.e. temporary or permanent suspension if the bullying continues.
4. All coaches involved with both individuals should be made aware of the concerns and outcome of the process i.e. the warning.
This policy is based on guidance provided to schools by KIDSCAPE. KIDSCAPE is a voluntary organisation committed to help prevent child bullying. KIDSCAPE can be contacted on 0207 730 3300 or you can access their website via www.kidscape.org.uk.

You may also wish to access any of the following websites designed to give advice and guidance to parents and children:
www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
www.stoptextbully.com
www.bullying.co.uk