WWE Expand Their Anti-Bullying Campaign During European Tour

This week, WWE and UK children’s charity, NSPCC announced a new ‘Call out Bullying’ campaign, focused on helping young people understand bullying and what to do if they experience or witness it.

The campaign comes as a part of WWE’s overarching bullying prevention programme, ‘Be a STAR’. In conjunction with their European tour, WWE has held anti-bullying events in cities across the continent, including Manchester and Cologne.  

The ‘Call out Bullying’ campaign launched at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, UK and saw three WWE Superstars urge one hundred local school pupils to stand up to bullying at a ‘Be a STAR’ bullying prevention rally. The partnership will also help parents recognise the warning signs if their child is being bullied and helps them speak to their children about bullying.

WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, WWE Superstar Naomi and NXT UK Superstar Trent Seven 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.

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.

Initially launching in the United States, the ‘Be a STAR’ programme 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. It is built on the belief that 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.

The partnership launches as WWE kicks off its UK tour which is running 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.

The WWE is a longtime Beyond Sport partner, a Supporter of the annual Beyond Sport United conference, and a presenting partner for the Courageous Use of Sport Award at this year’s Beyond Sport Global Awards.