Boys and girls aged 6 to 11 years across England will be taking part in the specially devised rugby programme; 'Kicking Bullying Into Touch', which will see each of the 12 Guinness Premiership Clubs and National Division One team Leeds Carnegie taking anti-bullying training into 780 primary schools over the next 18 months.
The partnership was launched at the start of national Anti-Bullying Week (17th to 21st November 2008) and marked the beginning of a wider awareness-raising and fundraising partnership between ChildLine and the Guinness Premiership. As part of the programme, the Guinness Premiership is making round twenty of the 2008-09 Guinness Premiership season a special round of matches designed to raise awareness and funds for ChildLine, as they did so successfully last season with Breast Cancer Care.
Last year ChildLine counselled 32,562 children calling about bullying - on 0800 1111 - around 18% of all children counselled by the free helpline provided by the NSPCC.
Saracens and England captain Steve Borthwick said: "Kids get singled out for all sorts of reasons and sometimes bullies will have a go at you just because you're seen as being big and tough. Being part of a team where everyone is different means you need to play to each other's strengths and work together to get a winning result.
"No one should put up with being bullied but you have to deal with it safely. Sometimes you might not agree with a team mate, but it's vital that differences are sorted out with the coach in a respectful manner and that people aren't left bearing grudges. I'm really looking forward to working with children in schools through the ChildLine partnership and helping with Kicking Bullying Into Touch."
Founder and President of ChildLine Esther Rantzen said: "Bullying can devastate children's lives and it's vital that all children know bullying is wrong and how to get help if it happens to them. Taking part in sport like rugby can build teamwork skills and respect for others.
"As the daughter of a rugby player, the widow of a rugby player, and the mother of a rugby player, I am delighted that Premier Rugby has chosen to work with ChildLine and I hope this partnership will also raise awareness of ChildLine with families, as well as help raise the vital funds for our Child's Voice Appeal so that 500,000 more children every year will be counselled by ChildLine volunteers by 2011."
Premier Rugby's Community Manager Wayne Morris said, "The Kicking Bullying Into Touch programme is a great way for us to use our unique assets, namely our club brands and players, to tackle an issue that is very high on the government's agenda. Rugby thrives on its diversity, where all different types of people come together to create a successful team. By using some of the key skills in the game, within the inclusive environment rugby generates, we believe the programme will make a real difference to the lives of young children."
For more information about the partnership go to http://www.childline.org.uk/.
ChildLine Leaflet
Download the ChildLine leaflet.
Key Facts
- The 'Kicking Bullying Into Touch' programme uses the brands and role models from the Guinness Premiership across 780 primary schools in disadvantaged areas of England (top 20% of the IMD (Index of Multiple Deprivation)), to deliver anti-bullying messages in association with ChildLine. The programme will use some of the key skills associated with Tag Rugby, the mixed sex, non-contact form of the game, to address issues around bullying.
- ChildLine is the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people, with trained volunteer counsellors available to comfort, advise and protect. In February 2006, ChildLine formally joined with the NSPCC in a move that will ensure even stronger services and a more influential voice for children of all ages. ChildLine, now one of the NSPCC's listening services, still has the same well known telephone number - 0800 1111 - and children and young people can still call 24 hours a day and receive the same crucial service. http://www.childline.org.uk/.
- Premier Rugby is the umbrella organisation owned by the Guinness Premiership clubs to manage their central rights, including community and corporate social responsibility programmes, as well as commercial and broadcast rights.
- The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) is a unique organisation of over 60 members from the voluntary, public and private sectors, who work together to reduce bullying and create safer environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn. ABA is based at the National Children's Bureau (NCB). For more information visit http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/.
Guinness Premiership Club Ambassadors
The Guinness Premiership club ambassadors are:
Bath Rugby, Danny Grewcock
Bristol Rugby, Mariano Sambucetti
Gloucester Rugby, Luke Narraway
Harlequins, Ugo Monye
Leeds Carnegie, Henry Paul
Leicester Tigers, Richard Blaze
London Irish, Alex Corbisiero
London Wasps, Paul Sackey
Newcastle Falcons, Adam Balding
Northampton Saints, Dylan Hartley
Sale Sharks, Andrew Sheridan
Saracens, Steve Borthwick
Worcester Warriors, Sam Tuitupou
