Scotland's Anti-Bullying Week Theme

Anti-Bullying Week 2026 will run from Monday 16 – Friday 20 November.   

Scotland’s Anti-Bullying Service, respectme, will launch a new film and animation designed to support this year’s campaign theme: Be Unique  - Bullying is wrong. Let’s get along.  

With 1 in 3 young people experiencing bullying from their peers at school*, this year’s campaign invites children and young people, educators, youth leaders, families and communities to come together to challenge the prejudices that can often lead to attacks on personal identity. We know that when bullying targets a young person’s identity, the wellbeing impact can be deep and long-lasting.  

At the heart of the new film sits the Be Unique animation, featuring real children’s voices pointing to many of the absurd reasons that children and young people can experience bullying, and highlights that what makes us ALL different is unique and to be celebrated. 

Prejudice based bullying is when bullying behaviour is motivated by prejudice, based on dislike of an individual’s actual or perceived identity and reflects wider societal trends of inequality and power. Prejudice comes in a variety of distinct forms and prejudice-based bullying can have wide-ranging impacts on children and young people’s health and wellbeing. Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People 

Prejudiced-based bullying can play out in school playgrounds, classrooms, parks, sports and youth clubs and at home. It happens because of people’s prejudices towards others; because they’re different in some way or are perceived to be different. But being different isn’t the problem – the problem lies in other people’s attitudes and behaviour towards what makes someone different. 

“A school without bullying would be paradise.” 

“If a child is bullied, they can feel scared of the world all their life.”  

(Quotes from Child Human Rights Defenders, Children’s Parliament) 

Recent research from Young Scot’s ‘Truth About Youth’ report outlined that 63% of young people aged 11-25 said that racism and prejudice in the news bothered them as well as highlighting mental wellbeing, safety and misinformation. It is vital that we listen to the voices of young people on the matters that mean most to them.

“For the likes of what’s going on in the world the thing that bothers me is the fact that people can’t just let people be themselves. Like if you’re not hurting yourself or others then you do you.  Why is it so hard for people to understand that?” (Quote from a young person)

*UNESCO 2019

Whether you’re an educator, youth worker, group leader, sports coach or parent/carer we can all celebrate diversity and challenge prejudice and discord to create safe spaces for children where they feel respected, valued and protected against harm. 

New learning resources designed around the Be Unique animation will support teaching professionals and practitioners to dive into the theme with sensitivity, build individual confidence and challenge those who act out bullying behaviours. 

Our online resource hub will go live this October and will include:  

• NEW film package including animation 
• Learning resources for Primary and Secondary age learners  (featuring PP slides and learner worksheets)
• Bunting flag template 
• Wristband template
• Colouring sheet
• Class or Group Anti-Bullying Pledge 
• Feel Good Activity Booklet 
• 5 Step Action Plan
• Anti-Bullying Week 2026 Certificate of Participation
• Parent and Carer Information Sheet  

Our Anti-Bullying Week resource hub will go live on Friday 9 October. Sign-in or register to create a respectme web account to get started. 

Account required

You need to sign in to access these resources. If you don’t already have an account, you can register here.

Would you like to take part in Scotland’s Anti-Bullying Week and don’t quite know how to? 

Get Ready for Anti-Bullying Week 2026 with us on Thursday 1 October by registering for one of two 30-minute live webinars either at 11am or 4pm.

Register on Eventbrite.

News of our Live Lesson offer for Primary schools will be announced soon.