STATEMENT OF INTENT
Radcliffe Swimming and Water Polo Club is committed to provide a caring, friendly and safe environment for our members so they can swim in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Whilst bullying is very rare in our club, we are committed to addressing any issues promptly and effectively. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable in our club. We are a TELLING Club. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the coach in confidence, who will pass your concern to the Club Welfare Officer
WHAT IS BULLYING BEHAVIOUR?
The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as “the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or through cyberspace”.
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 others need to learn different ways of behaving. Most bullying incidents are not crimes. But some types of bullying are illegal and should be reported to the police. This includes bullying that involves violence, assault and theft; harassment or intimidation over a period of time including calling someone names or threatening them, making abusive phone calls and sending abusive emails or text messages (one incident is not normally enough to get a conviction); and anything involving hate crimes. All Swim England affiliated organisations have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.
Radcliffe Swimming and Water Polo Club aims to create a nurturing environment for all children so that they can learn and achieve in their own right. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. We aim to support the child who is being bullied, as well as helping the bully learn different ways of behaving.
BULLYING CAN INCLUDE:
Verbal: name calling, persistent teasing, mocking, taunting and threats. Physical: any degree of physical violence including hitting, kicking and pushing. Intimidating behaviour, theft or the intentional damage of possessions.
Emotional: excluding, tormenting, ridiculing, humiliation, setting people up and spreading rumours.
Cyber: the misuse of digital technologies or communications to bully a person or a group, typically through messages or actions that are threatening and/or intended to cause offence, anxiety or humiliation.
