In honour of National Anti-Bullying Week, I want to take a moment to highlight how each of us can play a part in building a kinder, safer UCL community. Bullying doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it hides in the throwaway comment, the group chat that turns sour, or the subtle exclusion that leaves someone on the outside looking in. Yet its impact is unmistakable: a fracture in confidence, a lingering doubt, a sense of not belonging.
But there is power in awareness, and even more in action.
Active Bystander Programme
The Active Bystander Programme is a core part of students' time at UCL, and so far this year, the programme has successfully trained over 10,000 individual students, with now over 60,000 students trained over the past decade! The programme consists of an online module and a live workshop which is facilitated by Workshop Leaders who are student staff.
The Active Bystander Programme's online module breaks down what bullying can look like, and the roles that people take in enabling it to happen, such as those supporting a perpetrator, not challenging their behaviour, or those who notice it and don't take action to support the person affected.
Knowing when and how to step in matters. The 5Ds of Safe Intervention: Direct Action, Distract, Delegate, Delay, and Document, used in the Active Bystander Programme offer a framework for responding in the moment. Maybe it’s a calm word, a simple diversion, or checking in afterwards to make sure someone feels seen. Remember: your personal safety always comes first. Only intervene directly if you feel safe to.
Empower others to report
Sometimes the most powerful act is helping someone find their own voice. Encourage the person affected to explore the routes that are available to them, such as reporting through UCL’s Report and Support platform or reaching out to the Students’ Union’s Advice Service. However, remember the decision to report should always be up to the person who is impacted. It’s important to respect their choice so you can provide information, but never pressure anyone to report.
Understand the Impact
Bullying can cause real emotional and physical harm. It can erode confidence, isolate, and silence. To counter it, we must first understand it. Take time to listen, engage, and understand what the person feels they are experiencing. Compassion and validation go a long way in helping someone to feel supported, and believing others when they say something is wrong is a radical act of care.
Building a culture of courage
At UCL, we believe in the power of community. The Active Bystander Programme embodies that belief by equipping you to recognise harm and respond with empathy and confidence. Those who have taken part describe it as “empowering,” “eye-opening,” and a reminder that small actions ripple outward. One moment of courage can inspire another, and another, until the culture itself begins to shift.
Read feedback about the Active Bystander Programme:
"It teaches students of ways to contribute into the making of a better community at a global scale, and not only locally at the university level."
"What stood out most was realizing that small actions can make a big difference, and that being an active bystander empowers us to contribute to a safer, more supportive environment."
"The workshop was very insightful and empowering. It helped me feel more confident about recognising problematic situations and taking appropriate action as an active bystander."
-Student Feedback
Find strength in speaking up
Trust your instincts when something does not feel right. If you sense discomfort in yourself or someone else, pay attention. Your awareness matters. Believe what you see, believe what you feel, and believe others when they say they need support.
Every time you notice, speak up, or offer kindness, you make our community stronger. Taking action, whether that means offering support, asking a question, or choosing not to look away, helps create the safe and inclusive environment we all deserve.
One of the most effective ways to counter bullying is to create a community where people feel empowered to tackle unacceptable behaviour. Our Active Bystander Programme is just one of the ways in which this can be achieved. Through this, we can create a community where people feel able to maintain individual and collective safety
- Workshop Leader
The Active Bystander Programme helps students recognise what bullying looks like and the roles people play in allowing it to continue. The online module explores how behaviour can enable harm, while the live workshops bring these lessons to life through real situations and group discussions.
Workshop Leaders guide students to identify unacceptable behaviour, understand how privilege and power shape interactions, and learn practical ways to intervene safely and support others. Students leave with the confidence to use their awareness and influence to create a safer, more respectful community.
What's next?
- Take the Active bystander Training: Build your confidence to challenge harmful behaviour and support others in difficult situations Complete our online module and sign-up to one of our live workshops.
- UCL's Report and Support Platform: Everyone at the UCL, whether studying, working, or visiting, has the right to feel safe. Visit the Report and Support to explore available options for reporting.
- Speak to the Students’ Union Advice Service: Our advisers can offer practical help and guidance in a safe, non-judgmental space.
- This week is World Kindness Day (Thursday 13 November). Why not choose one small act of kindness to add to your daily routine - perhaps a compliment, a smile, or lending a hand to someone else. Kindess grows stronger the more we practice it.