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
Learning Resource Highlights from 9 October
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.
You need to sign in to access these resources. If you don’t already have an account, you can register here.Account required
Scotland's Big Anti-Bullying Assembly
Watch Scotland’s Big Anti-Bullying Assembly featuring the Be Unique animation collectively in schools and youth settings to celebrate the start of Anti-Bullying Week, or at any time that suits you better. Engage learners across multiple classrooms with campaign themed anti-bullying lessons across the day or week. Download learning resources from 9 October.
Live Lesson - Register
Primary School Age Learners (P4-P7)
Join respectme online to celebrate Anti-Bullying Week 2026 and discover this year’s campaign theme: Be Unique - Bullying is wrong. Let’s get along.
This interactive Live Lesson (Approx. 50 mins) will bring together primary school learners from across Scotland to explore the topics of bullying and prejudice.
Primary school practitioners and learners can look forward to:
- Discover Scotland’s Anti-Bullying Week 2026 campaign theme
- Watch respectme’s NEW anti-bullying film and animation
- Take part in interactive tasks, guided discussions and quizzes
- Take-away exercises including bunting colouring, wristband making and more
- Finding out about the Feel-Good Activity Guide
- Learners can also nominate their school to create a new youth-led anti-bullying committee/movement by signing a class/school pledge
Join this unique opportunity online to watch our new film, learn, collaborate, and create. Register now for a Live Lesson - 4 to choose from:
- Monday 16 November, 11.00am
- Thursday 19 November,1.30pm
- Tuesday 24 November: 11.00am
- Wednesday 25 November: 1.30pm
