What can I do to help?

As a bystander there are a few things that you can do to help the victims of bullying, so that they don't have to suffer any more.

Firstly, the best thing that you can do to help is to tell someone, tell an adult like a teacher, tutor, parent, carer, and tell them in confidence. Tell them exactly what you have seen happening and that you want to help the victim but don't want to be the bullies' next target, this way they can help the victim without the bullies knowing that it was you who told.

Another thing you can do is to not join in. If you add to the bully's insults by getting involved with the bullying you are making it much worse for the victim. The best thing you can do is stay out of it, bullies like to have audiences so that they can show off about how powerful they are when they bully others.

See if you can talk to the victim, and try to make friends with them so that they don't feel alone. Many people who are bullied don't have many friends and sometimes they don't have any at all. This does not help the situation when they are bullied as they feel that they have no-one to talk to, to help them out. Being a friendly face could help the victim immensely and it could help to give that person more confidence and hopefully put a stop to the bullying.

Don't try and take the bullies on or interfere directly with the bullying. If you do this it is very likely that you will become the next target. Only interfere if you think someone is being physcially hurt badly, the best thing to do is tell an adult straight away and they will then be able to sort out the problem.