Print this page 
Play and leisure provision
Play and leisure activities can help young people to work
together, build confidence and resilience and develop team playing
skills. But a few can find they are always left out or never picked
as a partner. They can be humiliated by other young people or by an
activity leader or coach. If permitted to continue, these
situations can send a message to the group that bullying is
acceptable.
Bullying and the fear of bullying can prevent children and young
people from playing outside or moving around their neighbourhood.
Some children do not play out because they are scared of being
bullied. In a survey by Young Voice (of approximately 2000 pupils)
around a half of respondents who said they had been bullied ‘a lot’
said they were ‘put off’ going to places like youth or homework
clubs, drama or music, Brownies/Scouts/guides, weekend or holiday
clubs and adventure playgrounds by ‘people who bully you’. In one
survey, nearly half of secondary age young people who are badly
bullied say they hardly ever use local parks or playgrounds.
Children and young people were asked to give reasons why they did
not use parks and playgrounds. Among those who reported being
bullied ‘a lot’, 23% of primary age and 15% of secondary age said
it is because ‘they are scared by people who do go’, whilst more
than 1 in 5 primary and 1 in 10 of secondary respondents said it
was because of being ‘chased away or bullied by other
children’.