ABA are official organisers of Anti-Bullying Week and Odd Socks Day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Anti-Bullying Week 2024 will take place from Monday 11th - Friday 15th November, with the theme: Choose Respect. Odd Socks Day is taking place on Tuesday 12th November, with adults and children being encouraged to wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

The theme of Choose Respect has come about following consultation with teachers and pupils by the Anti-Bullying Alliance which coordinates Anti-Bullying Week every year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.

Following the success of the campaign in 2023 – when 80% of schools marked the week, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people – this year, we’ll empower children and young people to choose respect.

As usual, schools are able to download free teaching resources and themed assemblies. These resources focus on how we can actively choose respect, and what we can do to stop bullying. We will also develop a media, social media and community-based campaign to help bring Anti-Bullying Week to life whether you're at home, work or in school. Watch this space!

 

Our call to action: 

From playgrounds to parliament, our homes to our phones, this Anti-Bullying Week let's 'Choose Respect' and bring an end to bullying which negatively impacts millions of young lives.

This year, we’ll empower children and young people to not resort to bullying, even when we disagree and remind adults to lead by example, online and offline.

Imagine a world where respect and kindness thrives — it’s not just a dream, it's in the choices we make. Join us this Anti-Bullying Week and commit to 'Choose Respect'. What will you choose? 

How can you Choose Respect?

As usual, schools will be able to download free teaching resources and themed assemblies. These will focus on the actions we can take to Choose Respect, and what we can do to stop bullying.

Anti-Bullying Alliance patron, CBBC and CBeebies star Andy Day will lead celebrity support for the campaign, with his band Andy and the Odd Socks. The band will be releasing a video for their toe-tapping song, 'Choose Respect', to mark Odd Socks Day on the first day of Anti-Bullying Week. There’s a serious message behind the fun: let’s pull on odd socks to show we’re ALL unique and different, and let’s be kind to each other and respect each other’s individuality.

For older children, the buzz on social media is an important part of Anti-Bullying Week, and a great opportunity for schools to share how they’ve embraced the anti-bullying message. It’s easy to get involved via #AntiBullyingWeek and #ChooseRespect on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.