Mencap launches anti-bullying campaign

Learning disability charity, Mencap, has launched a campaign to stop the bullying of children with a learning disability called ‘Don’t stick it, stop it!’ Eight out of ten children and young people with a learning disability said that they had been bullied, and six out of ten had been physically hurt by bullies.

“Don’t stick it, stop it!” is a new campaign from learning disability charity, Mencap, to put a stop to the bullying of children and young people with a learning disability.

This year, Mencap surveyed over 500 children and young people with a learning disability, and discovered how common bullying is among these groups, and the devastating effect that it has on their lives.

The survey found that 8 out of 10 (82%) are bullied, and 8 out of 10 (79%) are scared to go out in because they are frightened that they will be bullied. 6 out of 10 (58%) have been physically harmed by bullies, and 4 out of 10 (36%) said that it didn’t stop after they told someone about it.

Children with a learning disability are bullied everywhere they go – in school, in the park, in the street, on the bus and at out-of-school clubs. They are more likely to be bullied by other children because they are seen as ‘different’ and as ‘easy targets’ by bullies. Bullying has a long-term impact, making it harder for children and young people to develop skills and gain confidence – both of which are already hard for children with a learning disability.

Mencap have launched a website for the campaign at www.dontstickit.org.uk. This is a fully accessible site, and includes information for children and adults. It has animations which portray the kind of bullying children with a learning disability have to face, and a section where you can make a sticker to show your support of the campaign to give Mencap a stronger voice with which to influence Government legislation.