Full Stop To Bullying Campaign

20th August 2004

Rob: How have you been able to come to terms with your experiences so quickly and do something so positive? It’s fantastic.

Gemma: Thank you Rob. After being a victim for so long I was desperate to help others. I was constantly being told I couldn’t help combat bullying until I was in the 6th form. When I was no longer suffering at the hands of bullies, it used to break my heart seeing other victims in the school. Though I tried to help these victims I always wondered about the victims I didn’t know about who also needed support, hence as soon as I was given the chance I wanted to help stop bullying.

Rob: How long has the Full Stop 2 Bullying campaign been running and what was the sequence of events that led to you setting it up?

Gemma: Full Stop 2 Bullying has been running for over 3 ½ years. It began by me nagging teachers at my school to allow me to do something to help combat bullying. The school agreed and myself and 30 of my peers were trained to be peer supporters by the NSPCC. We then set up a room which behaved as a drop-in centre. As another form of contact we introduced boxes which letters could be posted into. These letters could be anonymous and enabled victims, bullies or worried pupils concerned about their peers to contact help confidentially.

Finally, I set up my own website which has an email service directly to me in which I counsel people and offer support.
I also trained to become a trainer and now also provide a training programme to schools and businesses.

Rob: Could you tell us a little about the media coverage you’ve had? Have you enjoyed it?

Gemma: I have been featured in various press, including my local papers, namely the South Wales Echo, The Campaign and The South Wales Argus. However, Woman’s Own magazine and teenage magazine Bliss have also included features on my campaign in their magazines. I have also been on BBC On-line and completed both television and radio interviews. However, the most exciting media coverage I have had was when I was invited to appear on Channel Four’s ‘The Salon’ to have my hair cut, coloured and styled by Terry and John. It was both an exciting yet nerve-racking time. Many people I am sure will understand the sheer worry of going to the hairdressers, let alone whilst on National television!

Anyway, the media coverage has been enjoyable has given me a very valuable learning experience. However, it has also been a little hectic and daunting at times, especially the television and radio interviews. Fortunately about a year ago I was given some training by a media training called Richard Horsman – he gave me some very valuable tips, something I will always be grateful for!

Rob: What sort of response has the campaign had?

Gemma: So far the campaign has had an excellent response. I have been asked to speak at various conferences including touring the UK with the Minister for Education and Skill Mr Ivan Lewis and Childline’s Esther Rantzen OBE and have most recently spoken alongside them at the launch of the Anti Bullying Alliance in London.

The campaign has also received many awards including, The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award and the Supreme Volunteer of the Year award in my local community. The campaign also received the honour of being ‘Very Highly Commended’ in The Welsh Volunteer of the Year awards and also a finalist in the Edexcel Achievement in education and Deutsche Bank Spotlight awards. We are also nervously awaiting the result of the Whitbread Young Achievers awards after reaching the final. I feel these awards show the campaign has caught the attention of others and therefore is constantly helping raise awareness of such an important issue.

Rob: On a personal level have you been able to take any positives out of your ordeal?

Gemma: When I started the Full Stop 2 Bullying campaign I could never have imagined how successful it could become. However seeing its success and also being able to see others survive bullying through the Full Stop 2 Bullying services it has helped make my torment bearable. Knowing good has come out of bad has meant the hurt and torment I suffered at the hands of bullies wasn’t in vain. Also as a result I’ve been asked and gratefully accepted the positions of ambassador for Childline Cymru and Deutsche Bank Spotlight awards and also a developer for the Diana Memorial award, all of which were such honours.

Rob: If you could give one piece of advice to a person being bullied what would it be?

Gemma: First I would suggest you keep a diary of events, including dates, times and what happened. Secondly I would tell someone either a parent, a friend or someone you trust such as a teacher. I was always afraid to tell someone but then I thought could the bullying get any worse than it already was, I realised it couldn’t so I told my parents which really helped. Finally, I would say ‘remember it is not your fault you are being bullied’, in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, ‘Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent!’

Rob: Do you think people understand the extent of the problem for young people?

Gemma: The website has received hits and emails from all over the world, including Canada, South Africa, America and Australia which shows people everywhere are searching for answers. However, so many forms of bullying are being born, including text and email which is so sinister I don’t think anyone of us, whether we are experts in the field of bullying, a teacher, a parent or a child can understand the true extent of bullying. Nevertheless I feel by approaching the reason why people bully rather than just dealing with a victim when the bullying has already started and what could be said to be too late, then maybe we will be able to prevent some people becoming victims and help stop what appears to be an epidemic beginning!

Thank you Rob for asking me to do this interview and may I also congratulate you on the work you are doing. You’ve been an inspiration to me and continue to surprise me in all you do and I am sure you are to many others!