Anti-bullying charity faces closure

A national anti-bullying charity faces closure unless it can raise nearly £50,000 within the next seven days.

Bullying UK, which offers advice to half a million people a year, came to rely on corporate donations to meet running costs. But with the financial crisis causing businesses to tighten their belts, it is struggling to stay afloat.

The charity is now asking members of the public to donate £50,000 – the cost of running the charity for a year – by 1 September.

An online ‘totaliser’ which measures the current value of donations showed that only five percent of the target amount had been donated at the time of going to press.

CEO and founder John Carnell appealed for more people to come forward and offer their support.

He said: “We have recently been refused central government funding, even though our service provides a lifeline to suicidal young people and distressed parents every single day.

“If Bullying UK shuts down, the government will need to provide two fully trained civil servants 24/7, 365 days a year… We are asking people and businesses across the UK to please help us, so when the new school term starts Bullying UK will be here to support every family desperate for help.”

Over the last 12 years, volunteers for the charity, formerly called Bullying Online, have replied to more than 64,000 emails. They also supply 150,000 leaflets to schools and youth organisations every year, and use a web service and iphone application to offer advice to children and parents.

One donor, who made an online contribution yesterday, added the following words of support: “I really hope you can get the money. I’m so sorry that I can only afford to donate £20 to your worthy cause. If I had more money, you would have it.”

To make a donation visit http www.justgiving.com/savebullyinguk.