Empowering Apprentices to Be Upstanders: How Trainers Can Foster Peer Support with Caution
As we mark Anti-Bullying Week, it’s a crucial time to reflect on how we can empower apprentices to stand up against bullying and foster a culture of peer support. Bullying remains a significant issue in both educational and professional training environments. While trainers play a key role in addressing and preventing bullying, empowering learners to be “upstanders” – individuals who actively stand against bullying – can be even more impactful. By fostering peer support, trainers can help create a collaborative and respectful environment where bullying is less likely to thrive. However, it is equally important to approach the topic of bullying with caution and to ensure that apprentices understand how to be safe while standing up for others.
Why Empowering Apprentices Matters
In many cases, bullying persists because bystanders remain passive. Learners often witness bullying but may feel unsure or afraid to intervene. Encouraging apprentices to become upstanders helps break this cycle. When individuals feel empowered to take action, they can help prevent bullying and support those who may feel isolated or vulnerable. Peer-led interventions are often more effective than top-down approaches because learners are more likely to respond to their peers.
Fostering Cautious and Responsible Peer Support
Supporting one another against bullying is powerful, but it’s essential to balance this with a cautious approach. Encouraging learners to intervene safely and wisely is critical for their well-being. Here are strategies to foster safe, supportive peer interactions and responsible upstander behaviours:
Create a Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment: Set the tone by establishing clear expectations around respect, inclusivity, and safety. Ensure that learners feel comfortable speaking up when they witness bullying but also understand the importance of assessing the situation. Reinforce the need for caution, reminding them that some situations may require the involvement of trainers or other authorities rather than direct intervention.
Teach Assertiveness and Confidence, with an Emphasis on Safety: Activities promoting assertiveness help apprentices develop the skills and confidence to intervene when bullying occurs, but they should be equally aware of not putting themselves in harm’s way. Role-playing exercises are effective for practicing responses in a safe, controlled environment, allowing learners to recognise the difference between safe intervention and situations that might require external support.
Encourage Open Dialogue and Responsible Decision-Making: Promote open conversations about bullying, its impact, and appropriate ways to respond. Group discussions or workshops allow apprentices to reflect on their experiences and discuss safe strategies for dealing with bullying. They should be encouraged to recognise when a situation may be too risky for direct involvement and when it may be better to seek assistance from trainers, administrators, or authorities.
Empowerment Through Boundaries: While empowering learners to become upstanders, it’s essential to establish boundaries and educate them on recognising when a situation is beyond their control. Empowerment doesn’t mean always acting alone; it also involves knowing when to call for help to ensure everyone’s safety.
By empowering learners to become cautious and responsible upstanders, trainers can reduce bullying’s prevalence and create a supportive, inclusive environment where everyone thrives. Encouraging apprentices to consider their safety and the context of each situation when standing up against bullying reinforces a balanced approach. Trainers play a pivotal role in guiding learners on how to support each other in a way that is not only impactful but also safe and wise.
