Two UK youth charities have reiterated their support for young people following the closure of BeatBullying
Two UK youth charities have joined forces to highlight to children and young people being bullied that there is still support available following the closure of the Beat Bullying group.
Get Connected and YouthNet made the joint statement after BeatBullying went into voluntary liquidation earlier this month.
The two charities both offer emotional support, advice and guidance for under 25s every on their websites and helplines. They say they hope those who have been struggling to find help since the closure of BeatBullying will turn to them.
Get Connected provides a free and confidential, multi-issue helpline for under 25s across six interactive channels, while YouthNet provide online advice, youth peer forums and signposting for a range of issues including bullying.
Jessica Taplin, chief executive of Get Connected, said: “The closure of BeatBullying means less education on how to prevent and deal with bullying.
The closure of BeatBullying means less education on how to prevent and deal with bullying
“At Get Connected, our trained volunteers help hundreds of children and young people every month by phone, text, email and web chat with whatever issue they are facing, from bullying and depression to self-harm. It’s crucial that young people have somewhere safe and reliable to turn to. Get Connected provides emotional support, helping young people navigate multiple issues before connecting them with the exact specialist support they need.”
Emma Thomas, chief executive of YouthNet, added: “When young people need help, very often the first place they go is online. It is vital that they have access to an anonymous, safe space where they can go for the advice and support they need - when they need it.
“We hope that by working with Get Connected, we can ensure that many more young people who are affected by bullying and other issues have somewhere to turn.”
Get Connected and YouthNet services are available via their websites at getconnected.org.uk or thesite.org.
