Back in April, I started getting into charity work in a big way. From purchasing badges all the way up to sponsored walks. I’m currently doing an October walk with Libra for Guide Dogs. That said, I updated my blogs banner today. It now sports the logos of the three charities I support on a monthly basis. BulliesOut is a relatively new setup based in Wales. They deal with bullying in all of its forms and every environment, but work with both the victim AND bullying, neutralising the situation and creating moral guidance.

Woman’s Aid is a very dear charity to my lady and I. It is of course, for all victims of domestic violence and abuse, but named after the most common. Thankfully it’s something I’d never have to face being quite capable. It angers me to think women and children go through this kind of suffering in this day and age. Sadly, we know two people like this, but we are enjoying watching their empires of hate begin to crumble and everyone they’ve played innocent to, see their true colours.

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is also rather amazing, helping prevent child abuse before it has happened. It isn’t hugely well known, and deserves so much more recognition. In fact all three of those charities do. We became patrons of these particular charities as we like the cause, know they do not overpay themselves or hold a vast pool of funds in an account somewhere. (See the shocking facts on the Royal British Legion). Details like this can be found on the government website.

One of my current biggest hates is people who use “I’ve got mental illness” to bail themselves out of acting like a complete arsehole. It seems to be a vogue that has popularized since The Jeremy Kyle Show came and went. The matter is, I work alongside mentally ill people, and workers on all levels that provide support. It’s pretty sound that anybody who suffers from these tendencies will hide them rather than blare them out as an excuse, because they don’t want the world knowing their problems. Similar to those whom threaten suicide. Most people just do it and leave a note, they seldom threaten it first. I have my little ways of knowing just how ‘mentally ill’ someone is. So I warn thee all now, I know BS when I see it so far as this excuse goes.

#Facebook has always been bent, and their community standards very much the same. With this power comes a responsibility, a responsibility which you have now proven to be too immature to wield. I don’t care if you power it up again or not Mark Zuckerberg , this is appalling and youve been sussed. God bless you Frances Haugen x

The three current Literally Immersive Gamebooks. Book 4 in progress.

It’s my proud boast that I’ve managed to do a lot of fundraising for various charities this year. One charity I have joined on a permanent basis it BulliesOut. I hate bullying. I don’t mind the odd tease, or practical joke, but there are lines to draw where it becomes unacceptable. I was victim when young. Yet bullying is kind of vampiric. Once you’ve suffered it, you immediately look for a safe zone, usually striking downwards and becoming the bullying to kids perhaps younger and smaller. I’m ashamed to say I did this before. But knew it was wrong, and stopped virtually right away. 

When you’re bullied to a point of fear, you don’t feel you can tell anyone. You worry about ridicule from those you need help from, or bad repercussions from the bullies. When I was at school, this inevitably held me back. The final year in school I finally stood up for myself, but the damage had already been done by this point. I merely endee any further hassle. However, in this day and age, we have incredible people to turn to such as BulliesOut. They’re not just about getting bullies to stop; they support victims and bystanders as well. I would urge anybody in the UK to check them out, and come forward if you are suffering. You could even become an ambassador for them at your school, empowered with the ability to do something for all victims in your school or workplace. 

http://www.bulliesout.com