How peer mentoring can help :: Kelly L
I was in school and a girl came up to me and said I was saying stuff about her. Then she swore at me and walked off. While she was walking off one of the people she was with said that she will probably leave you alone now but on the way home she came up behind me and hit me on the back of my head and kicked me then pushed me onto the road. When she did one of her sisters said if I retaliated she would get the rest of her sisters and friends to beat me up. So I carried on walking and she came up behind me again and punched me, so I started running till I got to my house. The next day I didn’t want to come to school, but I had to, and when I did the girl kept saying I said stuff about her. That day I had music and my teacher told me to tell someone. After I told him he also said he would talk to someone about it. The girl was in my class so at the end of the day I went to the learning mentors and told them about it and they said they would sort it. But it continued, and the next time I went a friend went with me and my friend saw everything the people did and we both told them. Then the next day she stopped picking on me and everything was a lot better.
How peer mentoring can help :: Name withheld
I was doing my hair in the mirror in the kitchen and my dad asked my brother what I was doing and my brother said I was doing my hair in the mirror. My dad walked in and grabbed me by the throat and pressed down on my throat and pushed me into a wall. He told me to go to school, I was half down my drive and he grabbed me again and pushed me into the wall.
When I got to school I went to my learning mentor and said I was afraid to go home. She called my mum and my mum came into school and my learning mentor called for Social Services. They sat me down with my mum and they said to let him go and leave the house for good.
Physically bullying like this is assault and therefore a criminal offence. In the first instance, you need to try and tell someone you trust about this. Physical and sexual assault, theft and text and email harassment are all serious offences and if the people bullying you are doing any of these things then the police can help you to stop it. Do not be afraid to call 999 - it is their job to help you.
Most bullying is sustained over a period of time, and if this is the case with you, make a safety plan.