WWE Superstars Becky Lynch, Naomi, and WWE NXT UK Superstar Trent Seven recently visited Edgbaston Stadium as part of a united rally with the NSPCC and 100 local school children to ‘Call out Bullying’.
The campaign is focused on helping young people understand why bullying is never acceptable and what to do if they experience or witness it, whilst also helping parents to recognise the warning signs if their child is being bullied and help them speak to their children about bullying.
The three WWE Superstars, who were presented with personalised Bears shirts, spoke to pupils aged 11 to 14 years old about the different types of bullying. They also discussed what to do if they are being bullied or see bullying happening and explored how emotions can affect how we act and treat others.
Following today’s launch, our team at the Edgbaston Foundation is going to spend more time working alongside the NSPCC to develop a similar campaign, which uses the power of cricket to stop online abuse and bullying prevention.
Ravi Masih
The launch with the NSPCC at Edgbaston is part of ‘Be a STAR’, the WWE’s bullying prevention programme, which initially launched in the United States and 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. When children learn how to manage their emotions, their ability to manage conflict can increase and this can help to reduce the amount bullying occurs.
Bullying can happen anywhere and to anyone. It can be emotional or physical and it can be in person or online. In 2016/17 the NSPCC supported service Childline held 24,571 counselling sessions with young people who had concerns about bullying and cyberbullying.
The NSPCC and WWE are urging any young people affected by bullying to speak to a trusted adult or contact the NSPCC-supported service Childline.
Adults are also encouraged to visit the ‘Call out Bullying’ campaign page on the NSPCC website where there is plenty of advice and support on what to do if you are concerned about a child.
Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC said: “We are very excited by the fantastic opportunity to team up with WWE to call out a tough and tenacious opponent, bullying. At the NSPCC we are acutely aware of the devastating impact that bullying can have, leading to children having low self-esteem, anxiety, and feeling powerless.
“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 and teenagers.”
Tracey Keenan, WWE Vice President and General Manager of UK & Ireland said: “WWE is thrilled to partner with the NSPCC to launch Call Out Bullying, a bullying prevention initiative campaign focused on providing children and parents with the tools and resources they need to prevent bullying in their communities,”
“The credibility and knowledge of the bullying prevention space provided by the NSPCC, combined with the reach and platform of our Superstars, will make a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children across the United Kingdom.”
Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Edgbaston and lead of the Edgbaston Foundation, the club’s official charity, said: “The NSPCC is one of our primary charity partners and it’s been fantastic to welcome WWE Superstars Becky, Naomi and Trent to Edgbaston to launch such a fantastic campaign, which raises awareness and can hopefully tackle the effects of bullying.
“Following today’s launch, our team at the Edgbaston Foundation is going to spend more time working alongside the NSPCC to develop a similar campaign, which uses the power of cricket to stop online abuse and bullying prevention. Further details will be released closer to the 2019 season.”
WWE recently kicked off its UK tour, which runs from the 3rd to the 11th of November, with live shows in Cardiff, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Brighton and London’s Wembley Arena.
