National Bullying Helpline

The National Bullying Helpline was a charity organisation established by David and Christine Pratt, promising to service the needs of victims of bullying, based in Swindon, Wiltshire. After closing in 2011, it reopened as a privately run, national, advice centre in 2012.[1]

Original charity

The National Bullying helpline was founded in 2007.[2] In 2009, they encouraged National Ban Bullying day on 7 November, and National Ban Bullying week starting on 16 November.[3]

In February 2010, National Bullying Helpline caused controversy by alleging that three or four members of Gordon Brown's colleagues had phoned them for advice.[4] This was seen as a breach of their confidentiality,[5] and caused the resignation of all four patrons of the organisation.[5][6][7]

Further controversy came when it was revealed that Christine Pratt herself had been involved in racist bullying of another staff member, and that the National Bullying Helpline itself was under investigation by the Charity Commission for submitting accounts late, taking advantage of its clients through exhorting money, and finding clients for David Pratt's HR company.[8][9] Pratt later resigned as a result,[4] the organisation was temporarily suspended,[10] and the organisation was investigated by the Charity Commission.[11] Pratt subsequently told Swindon Link, a free news publication delivered to 25000 homes around Swindon,[12] that the investigation had exonerated her.[13]

In January 2011, it was announced that the organisation was to close down, due to a lack of funding.[10][2]

Private Firm

In 2012, National Bullying Helpline reopened as a privately run, national, advice centre in 2012.[1]

References
  1. "ABOUT US". National Bullying Helpline. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  2. "Bully helpline in Brown row closes". Belfast Telegraph. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  3. "National Bullying Helpline campaign will continue". Personnel Today. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  4. "Bullying Helpline chief 'breached confidentiality'". The Week. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  5. "National Bullying Helpline condemned for breach of confidentiality over No 10 complaints". Third Sector. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  6. "Ann Widdecombe resigns from charity over 'bullying' row". BBC News. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  7. "National Bullying Helpline under fire as patrons resign". The Guardian. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  8. "Christine Pratt: The chequered past and tangled present of woman at". The Independent. London. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
  9. "Profile: Christine Pratt and the National Bullying Helpline". The Guardian. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  10. "National Bullying Helpline closes down". BBC News. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  11. "Charity Commission opens inquiry into National Bullying Helpline". The Guardian. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  12. "Swindon Link". 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  13. "National bullying hotline founder exonerated". Swindon Link. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
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