NSPCC teams up with WWE stars to tackle bullying in Sheffield

Superstars from the WWE visited the NSPCC’s service centre in Sheffield recently as part of their ‘Call Out Bullying’ campaign with the children’s charity, focused on helping young people understand why bullying is never acceptable and what to do if they experience or witness it.

The partnership also helps parents recognise the warning signs if their child is being bullied allowing them to speak to their children about how to combat the problem.

WWE Superstars Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson visited the NSPCC’s service centre in Sheffield to speak to pupils from Forge Valley High School about different types of bullying.

They talked to pupils about what to do if they are being bullied or see bullying happening and explored how emotions can affect how we act and treat others.

Initially launching in the United States, the WWE’s anti-bullying programme has reached more than 500,000 children globally. It aims to develop children’s emotional intelligence to help them become happier, healthier and more compassionate. According to the NHS, when children learn how to manage their emotions, their ability to manage conflict can increase and this can help to reduce the amount of incidents of bullying. The Call Out Bullying campaign was launched in the UK with the NSPCC last November as part of the programme.

Karen Bates, NSPCC service centre manager in Sheffield, said: “We are excited to team up with WWE to call out a tough and tenacious opponent – bullying. Bullying can happen anywhere and to anyone. It can be emotional or physical and it can be in person or online.

“At the NSPCC we are acutely aware of the devastating impact that bullying can have, leading to children having low self-esteem and anxiety, and feeling powerless.

“Every year, thousands of young people from across the UK contact the NSPCC’s Childline service to discuss concerns about bullying with cyberbullying becoming increasingly prevalent. In 2018-19, the total number of Childline counselling sessions where the main concern was bullying was 15,851.

“It is vital that we do all we can to support children and their parents and we are thrilled to have teamed up with WWE who have a global audience of millions which includes many children.”