- National Bullying Helpline
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The National Bullying Helpline was a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom.[1] It was established as a business in 2006 by Christine and David Pratt, appearing to service the needs of victims of workplace bullying, and was awarded charity status in 2007. The helpline, which is based in Swindon, claims[2] to be based on the work of Tim Field, who ran a workplace bullying advice line from 1996 until 2004.[3]
The helpline was originally based in the same offices as another company run by the Pratts. In 2002 they had established an HR consultancy, "HR & Diversity Management Ltd", that specialises in helping employers to resolve disputes,[4] claiming "During 2006 25% of cases found that the instigator (of a complaint of bullying), the alleged victim, was in fact, the bully".[5]
According to public records provided by Companies House, during 2008 Mrs Pratt resigned her directorship of both HR & Diversity Management Ltd and the National Bullying Helpline Ltd. She remained the CEO of the helpline, while David Pratt remained a director of both organisations.
In February 2010, following media coverage of accusations by Andrew Rawnsley that Gordon Brown had bullied members of his staff, Ms. Pratt claimed that the helpline had taken calls from Downing Street staff, although she later stated that the callers made no accusations against Brown himself. This led to the resignations of all of the charity's patrons, including Cary Cooper, Ann Widdecombe and Sarah Cawood.[6] The Charity Commission has said that it has received over 160 complaints about the helpline's handling of the situation.[7] As a result of the fallout, the helpline was voluntarily suspended,[8] but then resumed service on 26 February.
In March 2010 the Charity Commission opened a Statuory Investigation[9] after concerns had been raised about "the protection of confidential information held by the charity" and "issues surrounding referrals understood to have been made by the charity to a business connected with one of its trustees." By June 2010 the investigation had not been completed, and Civil Society magazine [10] reported that Christine Pratt had criticised the Charity Commission’s investigation in a letter to the helpline's supporters, calling the Commission's processes “far from fair, open and transparent”, and complaining that the commission "probe deeper and deeper into seemingly irrelevant aspects of our day-to-day operations".
In January 2011 the charity folded, citing lack of funds and the resignation of its chief executive as reasons.[11]
References
- ^ The National Bullying Helpline Ltd, Registered Charity no. 1117852 at the Charity Commission
- ^ "National Bullying Helpline". National Bullying Helpline. http://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/about.htm. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ "UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line History and Statistics". UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line History and Statistics. http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/worbal.htm. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ^ "Workplace Bullying Helpline". Bullying Business. http://bullyingbusiness.co.uk/index.html. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ "Investigations". Bullying Business. http://bullyingbusiness.co.uk/html/investigations.html. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ Morris, Steven (22 February 2010). "National Bullying Helpline under fire as patrons resign". Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/22/national-bullying-helpline-patrons-resign. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ "Charity Commission investigates bullying charity". BBC. 25 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8537865.stm. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ^ "Charity help line suspended". BBC News. 24 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8533924.stm. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ "Charity Commission opens Inquiry into National Bullying Helpline". Charity Commission. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/News/pr_national_bullying.aspx. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ "National Bullying Helpline criticises Charity Commission investigation". Civil Society. http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/news/content/6767/national_bullying_helpline_criticises_charity_commission_investigation. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ "National Bullying Helpline closes down". BBC News. 6 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12130984. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
External links
Categories:- Social welfare charities based in the United Kingdom
- Bullying
- Charities based in Wiltshire
- 2006 establishments in England
- 2011 disestablishments
- Anti-bullying charities
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