The children’s workforce plays a vital role in shaping the values and experiences of young people, fostering environments where every child feels safe, respected, and valued. In some communities in Northern Ireland, the issue of sectarian bullying remains a pressing challenge, requiring awareness, understanding, and proactive intervention.
There has been great progress in the issue of sectarian bullying since the introduction of the Belfast Agreement 1998 (Good Friday Agreement). Since its implementation, there has been great success in areas such as Integrated Education, Shared Education, and cross-community initiatives to bring people together, promoting a more peaceful approach to life in Northern Ireland. However, research, including our own research for this project, shows that sectarianism and sectarian bullying remains an issue for those living in Northern Ireland today.
Sectarian bullying, often rooted in historical, cultural, or religious divides, can deeply affect the well-being and development of children. Beyond the immediate harm to victims, it perpetuates division and undermines efforts to build cohesive communities. Tackling this issue is not only a moral imperative but also a legal and professional responsibility for those working with children.
This training course has been developed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address sectarian bullying effectively. It will give you a good understanding of the sectarian bullying amongst children and young people in Northern Ireland, as well as how to prevent, record, and respond to address it. It takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.
The training emphasises practical tools and collaborative strategies that empower professionals to identify and challenge sectarian attitudes and behaviours. By fostering empathy, understanding, and open dialogue, we can create environments where diversity is celebrated, and sectarianism has no place.
You will be asked to complete a survey at the end of the course and will receive a CPD certificate upon completion. Your certificate will remain in the ‘My trainings’ section of the eLearning platform and you can download it at any time.
Please note: All lessons must be completed in order to download your certificate.
On completion of this course, participants will have a greater understanding of:
- Young people’s experiences of sectarian bullying (including: quotes & statistics from surveys)
- Preventing sectarian bullying (including: education, cross-community initiatives)
- Recording and reporting sectarian bullying behaviour
- Responding to sectarian bullying
Thank you for your commitment to this important work. Together, we can ensure that every child, regardless of their background, grows up in a world free from the constraints of prejudice and hatred.
For more information on the subject of bullying, we have hundreds of resources on our website – please do take a look: https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information
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