It’s Anti-Bullying Week, with the theme Power for Good chosen to inspire people to do something positive to counter the harm that bullying causes.
Organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) and taking place from Monday 10th – Friday 14th November 2025 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the annual Anti-Bullying Week aims to raise awareness of the impacts of bullying, which still affects more than a fifth of children each year.
For 2025, the theme is Power for Good, with the ABA pledging to empower children and young people to speak out against bullying, support others and “build a world where kindness wins”. This theme was selected by the ABA after consultation with teachers and pupils.
The week starts with Odd Socks Day, a fun and inclusive event where adults and children are encouraged to wear odd socks to celebrate individuality and kindness.
Millions get involved in Anti-Bullying Week
Last year, over 80% of schools observed Anti-Bullying Week, meaning that over 7.5 million children and young people got involved. This year, more than 8 million children and young people are set to take part.
The ABA supports schools with free teaching resources and themed assemblies available to download via their website.
Anti-Bullying Week is also supported by patrons including Cbeebies stars Andy and the Odd Socks, who lead Odd Socks Day, and Rúben Dias, Manchester City and Portugal footballer.
Throughout the week, awareness-raising activities and events will be held by thousands of schools, youth settings and community groups. This includes events led by the Young Anti-Bullying Alliance, the ABA’s youth activist group. The ABA will also host the Anti-Bullying School Staff Awards to celebrate staff who go above and beyond to support children impacted by bullying.
Government urged to tackle bullying with training
Alongside the fun, the Anti-Bullying Alliance Advisory Group is hoping the serious message behind the week will get through to policymakers.
They are calling on the government to take strong national action on bullying, requesting that all schools and people working with young children receive the skills, training support required to enable them to:
- Identify instances of bullying early
- Respond effectively and sensitively
- Build inclusive cultures that prevent bullying before it starts, especially for those most at risk
The group believes that bullying prevention should be viewed as an integral part of safeguarding children and an essential part of promoting wellbeing and equal opportunities among young people.
The ABA says that bullying can negatively impact a child’s “mental health, confidence, and ability to thrive at school, with the effects often lasting into adulthood.”
Turn awareness into action this Anti-Bullying Week
In an official press release for Anti-Bullying Week 2025, the ABA’s Director, Martha Boateng, said:
“Bullying does not fade away if we ignore it, it reverberates through a child’s confidence, health and future.
“This Anti-Bullying Week, we must turn awareness into action. Every school, youth worker and governor should have the training and tools to spot bullying early, respond effectively and build a culture where kindness is the norm.”
The Co-Chairs of the Anti-Bullying Alliance Advisory Group, Jennifer Moses and Will Gardner, echoed her sentiments:
“With bullying still affecting more than one in five children each year, now is the moment for decisive national investment in prevention, training and support.
“Our call is simple: equip every adult who works with children with the knowledge, confidence and resources to understand their role in preventing and responding to bullying face to face and online, contribute to safer environments where children can thrive. That is Power for Good in practice.”
Meanwhile, the Minister for Early Education, Olivia Bailey, said that Anti-Bullying Week served as a “vital reminder that every one of us has the power to make a difference and captures what education is all about; empowering young people to speak up, show kindness, and create safe, inclusive communities.”
She added that the government was taking several actions to support children and young people, “including providing mental health support in every school and delivering a comprehensive programme of behaviour and mental health support.”
Training and support for those working with children
First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider. They deliver a wide range of high quality training courses to over 50,000 learners annually, working with thousands of organisations and businesses across all sectors.
Their diverse portfolio includes training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food safety, health and social care and other special focus topics.
They work with thousands of schools, colleges and universities as well as pre-schools, nurseries, childcare providers and children’s centres to provide specialist training for those who work with children and young people. Training available includes Safeguarding Children, Health and Safety and Risk Assessment among other topics.
They can also provide trainers to deliver Mental Health First Aid training, accredited and developed by Mental Health First Aid England. There are versions for schools and others who work with young people, which focus specifically on issues that children and young people living in the UK today may experience – such as cyber bullying, self-harm and eating disorders.
A trainer at FRT, says:
“Bullying – whether online or offline – can make a child’s life miserable and affect their health and welfare. It is vitally important that this issue is addressed in schools and that everyone involved takes decisive action to stop and prevent bullying.
“It’s also important that those working with children and young people have an understanding of mental health problems and how these can affect children suffering from bullying and abuse, and how they in turn can provide much-needed support.”
For more information on the training services that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.