The Institute of Self-Defence (ISD) is committed to ensure all young people who participate in training have a safe, enjoyable and positive experience.
The ISD believes that the welfare of young people is everyone’s responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting young people from abuse. It is important to remember that it is not the responsibility of those working within the ISD to determine if abuse has taken place, but it is their responsibility to act upon and report any concerns.
Bullying can be defined as repeated aggression, be it verbal, psychological, or physical conducted by an individual or group against others. It is behavior that is intentionally aggravating and intimidating and occurs mainly in social environments such as schools, clubs, and other organisations working with children and young people. It includes behaviours such as teasing, taunting, threatening, hitting, and extortion behaviour by one or more children against a victim.
All bullies operate using furtiveness, threats, and fear. Bullying can, therefore, only survive in an environment where the victim does not feel empowered to tell someone who can help or in which it is not safe to do so.
The following indicators are warning signs that a young person might be getting bullied.
There are other possible reasons for many of the above Who should deal with bullying? While the more extreme forms of bullying would be regarded as physical or emotional abuse and are reported to the health board or An Garda Síochana, dealing with bullying behaviour is normally the responsibility of all Coaches and leaders within the club.
Step 1 – Interview with the victim. If you find that there has been an incident of bullying, first talk to the victim. At this stage, find out who was involved and what the victim is now feeling.
Try asking the following questions:
Step 2 – Meet with all involved. Arrange to meet with all those involved; this should include some bystanders, those who may have colluded, those who joined in, and those who initiated the bullying.
Step 3 – Explain the problem. The distress being suffered as a result of the bullying incident is explained. At this stage, the details of the incident or the allocation of the blame are not discussed. Explain the feelings of loneliness, feeling left out, rejected, or laughed at.
Try asking questions:
Step 4 – Share the responsibility. Explain what steps/controls may have to be introduced to prevent further incidents and how everyone will lose out as a result.
Step 5 – Ask the group for their ideas. At this stage, the group is encouraged to suggest ways that would make the victim feel happier. All positive responses are noted. Use the phrase “if it were you” to encourage a response. Listen to all suggestions and note them.
Step 6 – Leave it to them. Now the problem has been identified and solutions suggested, the problem is now handed over to the group to solve.
Arrange to meet again in a week’s time.
Pass responsibility over to the group and give a time frame within which something must be done
Step 7 – Meet them again. Each member of the group, including the bully, discusses how things are going, who is doing what, and there have been other incidents. This allows for continual monitoring and also keeps all involved in the process. Again enforce the idea of the team‟ looking after each
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