November is Anti-Bullying month, and to support the campaign, the IFA Community Relations department is holding a competition for school children to voice their views on bullying through the means of art and poetry. Every primary school child can enter the competition and the winners will have their winning entry displayed on posters near Windsor Park as well as printed in the International Match Programme and IFA magazine.
8 out of 10 children and young people with a learning disability are bullied. MENCAP believe this is a worrying statistic that needs to be addressed.
“82% of children and young people with a learning disability have experienced bullying and they are twice as likely to be bullied as other children ('The Nature and Extent of Bullying in NI', Department of Education, 2007). MENCAP research has shown that children and young people of all ages report bullying as the single biggest barrier to them living their lives to the full. Bullying in all its forms needs to be recognised, prevented and dealt with seriously. MENCAP and the IFA are attempting to tackle the problems of bullying by raising awareness of the issue. The partnership includes anti-bullying training within the organisation and will include a high profile campaign leading up to Anti-Bullying Week“.
IFA Football For All Communications Officer, Louise Eakin, explained why the IFA’s Football for All team is supporting the campaign.
“Football for All promotes an all inclusive message, respect for everyone regardless of nationality, background, creed or colour. As children are our future this anti-bullying message should be a mindset they grow up with. The IFA/MENCAP poetry and drawing competition is an opportunity for our children’s voices to be heard and spread throughout the community”.
For more information contact Louise Eakin ( leakin@irishfa.com)
