Voice of Islam radio interviews Be Kind Movement Founder...

Listen to this interview with our founder Premila Puri from 1:10:50 all about how kindness begets kindness on Voice of Islam radio…

Who will you nominate this World Kindness Day?

This weekend to celebrate World Kindness Day we've teamed up with the wonderful experts at Kind Natured for a prize giveaway!

You can win a gorgeous Gift Box - and another one so you can Gift It Forward to someone special. But who will you nominate?

Here at Be Kind Movement we have 10 kindness values that guide our work…

1. Integrity

2. Resilience

3. Care

4. Respect

5. Responsible

6. Assertiveness

7. Mindfulness

8. Compassion

9. Gratitude

10. Courage

Can you think of someone who shows these qualities and spreads kindness? If so, you have until 10am on Saturday 13th November to nominate them on Facebook to win!

To Enter Simply…

1. Like our Facebook competition post

2. Tag a friend you think deserves a gift and why

One lucky name will be picked at random at 10am on Saturday 13th November 2021 to celebrate World Kindness Day, and we'll be announcing it live.

Good luck!

All T&Cs and details at https://www.bekindmovement.co.uk/world-kindness-day-2021

#worldkindnessday #kindnatured #bekindmovement #kindnessmatters #giftitforward

Our founder wins at the Best Business Women Awards 2021!

In October 2021, the Best Business Women Awards 2021 were held at the Hilton Wembley, and we are thrilled to say our founder, Premila Puri, won the Charity Champion Award!

Premila was recognised in this prestigious competition which seeks to find the very best female business talent from across the UK and internationally. 

The Best Business Women Awards are designed to highlight the achievements of women across a wide range of industries. All winners, selected by a panel of business experts, demonstrated a flair for entrepreneurship, tenacity and determination.

Premila Puri with sponsor, Justine Perry from Cariad Marketing

Debbie Gilbert, the Awards organiser, said: "The judges believed that Premila and Be Kind Movement provide amazing support for young children to help them understand the world and their part in making it a kinder, supportive place.

"This charity exceeds in every way in highlighting, delivering, supporting and educating on the transformative power of kindness."

We couldn't be more proud. Well done, Premila! 

Today is World Animal Day!

At Be Kind Movement we are celebrating World Animal Day - October 4th - to remind us of the importance of improving the welfare of our animals. 

This is the one day of the year which embraces all animals and the unique concerns of each, in every country. 

Every year we lose multiple species as a result of threats to animal populations, which is bad for our ecosystem and has a knock on effect down the food chain, including to ourselves. 

Find out how you can magnify the visibility of this awareness day below! 

Why should we protect and conserve our animal species?

Every animal, from the smallest fish to the largest land mammal, has an integral role in its ecosystem. The loss of any animal species impacts their habitats altogether, and has a knock on effect to all species, including ourselves. Animals help pollination, keep forests healthy and even control pests. The welfare of our animals is in our best interests and means we can preserve them for future generations to appreciate and explore, so we should play our part and protect these species! 

How can I celebrate World Animal Day? 

Post some pictures of animals or even pets on social media. Let your friends know you’re supporting World Animal Day with the hashtag #WorldAnimalDay. Find out what your spirit animal is using this Buzzfeed quiz! 

Be kind to our planet; pick up litter you see outside, especially if it’s in a populated habitat like a forest. 

Eat more sustainably. Cut down your meat consumption to minimise your carbon footprint and make responsible food choices. This doesn’t necessarily mean cutting animal products out of your diet, but you could consider eating more plants and varied foods. According to WWF, 75% of the world’s food supply is derived from only 12 plants and five animal species, and approximately 94% of fish stocks are fished at their limit or overfished. 

Make greener choices in your everyday life. Start by taking your bag for life to the supermarket to reduce unnecessary plastic waste which could harm our animals. Try shopping more sustainably from smaller businesses and charity shops with a lower carbon footprint, and try to extend the product life cycle of your clothes by sewing them when they rip, for example. 

Lucy

Educational Researcher at Be Kind Movement

The Virgin Money London Marathon is back!

Today the 3rd of October is the day of the Virgin Money London Marathon, this amazing event which unites runners from across the nation to participate in friendly competition, achievement and together raise millions of pounds for charity.  

Around fifty thousand runners are said to take part in the marathon this year and thousands of others are taking on the extraordinary challenge of 26 miles on a route of their choice across the country.  

How does the marathon help so many people? 

• The Virgin Money London Marathon is the biggest mass participation single day fundraisers for charities.

• Last year due to Covid and this marathon not taking place, instead the 2.6 challenge was introduced by organisers of mass fundraising events. This combined with the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon and other events hosted by them raised fifty million pounds for charity.

• Also, in 2020 around 4000 charities benefited from the money raised which was extremely helpful due to the loss of an estimated £10 billion in revenue due to Covid at a time when they were needed.

• In 2019 a total of £66.4 million pounds was raised for charity - this was the largest amount raised from the event!

How could you support the marathon?

You don’t have to be able to run 26 miles in order to help support the Virgin Money London Marathon raise money for charities. Here are some ways you can support the day…

• Donate to people running for the Virgin Money London Marathon, this can be done through friends or on a Facebook page. 

• Do some fundraising of your own – during this time of such fundraising spirit you could do some fundraising for a charity of your choice too (you could even run 2.6 miles instead of 26!)

• Make a donation to a charity of your choice

• Follow the Virgin Money London Marathon on Twitter and keep updated with the action / retweet your support for runners 

“In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.” – Fred Lebow – New York City Marathon co-founder 

Thank you again,

Best wishes 

Harriet

It's ADHD Awareness Month

ADHD – deficiency or superpower?

Attention please! October is here and it is ADHD awareness month! ADHD refers to Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning it results from the development of the brain and this leads to ADHD traits or behaviours. Unfortunately, this name does not reflect the growing movement towards neurodiversity, which reframes “disorders” as “differences”.

When we label something a “disorder”, there is an implied negative connotation and a departure from “normal”. However, neurodiversity recognises that whilst many people might be “neurotypical”, a huge percentage of the population are “neurodiverse”, meaning they develop, think, behave or are abled differently. Neurodiversity celebrates differences and varying abilities and moves away from prejudice and towards compassion.

Individuals with ADHD can be uniquely skilled in bringing their energy and hyper-focus to their work or interests. They are often creative, with minds which are active, imaginative and busy. Such attributes can lead to innovation and thinking outside the box. Of course, with such assets, come challenges too. For example, staying on task or managing time are areas a person with ADHD often needs strategies for. With the right support from schools, colleagues, families and friends, people work towards managing the impact of their ADHD and lead fulfilling lives.

Many inspirational people have shared their own stories of stigmatisation and success as they live with ADHD.

ADHD has served as a superpower for musicians such as Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters fame, Justin Timberlake, Adam Levine of Maroon5 and will.I.am to name a few. Olympians Michael Phelps and Simone Biles too share a diagnosis and success in common. Phelps shares “I had a teacher tell me that I would never amount to anything and I would never be successful.” However, he has more than proved them wrong and smashed through the stigma: “It’s something that I’m thankful happened, and I’m thankful that I am how I am. I look at myself every day and I’m so proud and so happy of who I am and who I was able to become.”

Top tips:

A ADHD awareness month’s website offers videos from experts about reframing ADHD here

D Dani Donovan creates excellent ADHD comics here and is an active advocate on social media

H Help children learn more about ADHD with one of these recommended reads here

D Discuss neurodiversity when you can and advocate for a kinder concept of difference. Thank you for your attention!

Amy

Written by Amy Partington, Educational Researcher at Be Kind Movement.

Be kind to your body this National Fitness Day

Did you know that today, 22nd September, is National Fitness Day?

This day aims to spread awareness about the importance of physical activity. Exercise is so important for our wellbeing as it releases positive endorphins , it gives us time to be kind to bodies, as well as opening up opportunities for socialising and making friends. 

There are several benefits of exercise, including: 

• Reduces stress

• Increases metabolism

• Improves sleep

• Lowers cholesterol

• Increases immunity

• Improves concentration

• Lowers blood pressure

• Strengthens cardiac function

How it helps us be kind to ourselves  

Before starting university I used to do very little exercise, then one of my new flatmates told me about his running so I thought I would give it a go. After just a month I noticed a significant reduction in my stress and anxiety levels. I felt much more positively about myself and I felt much better overall. Now nearly a year later I’m doing Parkrun weekly and my time for 5k has gone from 38 mins down to 28. This just shows the amazing difference that exercise can make not just to physical health but also our mental health in reducing stress and seeing ourselves in a more positive light.  

How will you celebrate the day?

Here’s some ideas to get you started…

• Go on a walk with friends – this can be a very good way to start the day and be a lovely way to catch up. 

• See what things are going on in your local area – there might be group fitness events or even arrange to go to Parkrun which is a 5k run evert every Saturday up and down the country.  Lots of local parks also have outdoor gyms now which are free to use

• Take up a new sport – See what different local sports clubs are in your area. This could be a perfect opportunity to try out something new. 

• Try a new fitness app – There are a lot of fitness apps that can monitor your activity these are available for a range of sports. One I would recommend which creates a really good community is Strava. This can monitor running, walking and cycling to windsurfing, and it is a very positive community of encouragement. 

You can find out more about the different events taking place today at https://www.nationalfitnessday.com/activity-finder/.

I hope you have a great day, whether you go for a gentle walk or have a dip in a swimming pool!

Harriet

Be Kind Movement

Exploring peace and kindness this International Day of Peace

This year marks the 30th International Day of Peace, created by the UN Decade in 1981. It’s a day that emphasises peaceful resolutions, away from violence. The Be Kind Movement is celebrating this day focusing on the peace that kindness brings to ourselves and to others. On a wider scale it often feels like there isn’t much we can do at an individual level - but there’s always something. If you have the capacity, please consider donating to causes that promote peace, as unfortunately there is a lot of unkindness in the world, but we do not have to be defined by it. I personally really respect the work of Peace Direct and Peace Pledge Union who work to challenge war, and help those affected by it. Even if you are not able to donate monetarily there’s still a lot that we can do to support peace in our own lives. Conflicts and confrontations often can’t be avoided in our day to day life, but if we learn to handle them in a kind way, we’ll often find we’re not that different after all, and can work together to achieve a peaceful resolution. Mediators Beyond Borders International have put together a list of 25 ways you can promote peace in your life. I’ve put my favourite ones below and why I think they’re particularly relevant to our kindness message.

Learn another language

This one is tricky, and requires a lot of hard work! Communication is such a key part of life as human beings. We’re incredibly social animals, and the ability to communicate with others is central to building relationships, learning from each other, and participating in our interests. Learning a new language can open up possibilities to communicate with people we may not have otherwise had the opportunity too. This is great for our personal development - it keeps our brains young, and socially brings new friendships into our lives. I’d personally recommend learning Sign Language as it’s a truly fascinating mode of communication and there are so many online resources and videos available for free to get you started!

Be helpful

This can be easier said than done when we’re tired or not feeling our best, but if you find small opportunities to help people, it’ll give you a much needed boost of hormones to make us feel good about ourselves! It never hurts to be kind. Try looking out if you can hold doors for people, or carry something for someone, or help with clearing up. Kindness never goes unnoticed.

Volunteer

Everyone has their own way that they can benefit the community. The volunteers at our charity have chosen to focus on children and young people as we believe instilling kindness at young ages can help these future leaders achieve their goals and build kindness throughout society. There's always room for kindness in everyone's life, how can you make kindness routine in yours? Here I’d like to highlight our campaigns and ask you to donate, if you’re interested in getting involved! And, if you're interested in volunteering with us, please email info@bekindmovement.co.uk. If you don't have the capacity to donate, that's okay!

Please help us achieve our goals by completing a kindness act - give someone a compliment, write someone a thank you note, reach out to someone for a chat… Anything you can think of.

Peace and kindness are intrinsically connected so please, be kind to each other, and be kind to yourself.

Six Ways to Celebrate Words

You could begin by Swapping your Favourite Books! 

Earlier this week the world marked National Literacy Day (8th September) so here’s some ideas for celebrating literacy. Maybe you could try swapping a favourite book with a friend, or joining a book club?! 

UNESCO first commemorated this day in 1966 as a reminder of the fundamental role of literacy in everyday life for individuals, communities and societies, and to tackle unequal literacy rates across the globe. 

Literacy includes the ability to both read and write and is a source of empowerment. The International Literacy Association stresses that being literate is linked with less poverty, lower early mortality rates, stronger economies, increased community involvement and improved personal wellbeing. This makes the UN’s targets to ensure all young people and adults have the opportunity to acquire literacy and numeracy essential. 

This past year has caused new barriers; access to literacy learning, particularly amongst adults, has been suspended or largely moved online. Lack of access to digital services and technology have exacerbated pre-existing issues of imbalanced literacy rates. According to UNESCO, over 775 million adults across the world are illiterate, two-thirds of this figure being women. 

We can’t be certain of the long-term impact of this past year and a half on literacy rates, but we do know that it’s more important than ever to encourage both children and adults to develop these skills. Why not join in and appreciate your own literacy by…

• Signing up for a library card. The best part? It’s free. 

• Sharing a book recommendation with a friend, or even better, swap your favourite books!

• Designing your own book covers or bookmarks.

• Taking part in a fundraising event to raise money for a literacy charity or donating books. This way you can get involved and help others.

• Re-reading a much-loved book or picking up a new one!

• Starting or joining a book club for people with similar reading preferences as you. 

Whichever way you celebrate the power of literacy, we hope you have fun and keep being kind!

Lucy

Educational Researcher

Be Kind Movement

Kindness in Film Summit

On 30 September, we are proud to be supporting the Kindness in Film Summit.

The Kindness in Film Summit is a one-day summit that addresses challenges facing the film industry with a ‘Kindness’ mindset that focuses on embracing a kinder and sustainable approach that enhances the well being of creatives, benefits the production company, and the wider industry. In the current climate, suicide and depression statistics will continue to rise, toxic behaviour on sets and within companies condoned and archaic industry practices remain rooted.

It has never been more apparent than now that many practices are unsustainable. If the industry wants to prosper with fresh talent, be seen to be inclusive and representative, with employees and freelancers motivated, happy and committed to producing high quality work, then the urgency to create CHANGE needs to happen now.

How to book your tickets…

It's National Read a Book Day!

It is ‘Back to School’ season and many of us (whether we are in school or not) feel that Autumnal pull to purchase a new pencil case and tap into some studious spirit. It is with perfect timing therefore that ‘National Read a Book Day’ comes around on the 6th September. Whilst this is celebrated across the pond in the US, we decided to take the excuse for some rewarding reading.

Particularly studious readers may take this opportunity to read a whole book in one day (ideas here)! However, for the majority of readers, including myself, it is reassuringly not the only way to participate in this literary landmark. This day could be the perfect excuse to return to an old favourite book which you could almost read with your eyes closed (mine is Pride and Prejudice). Or perhaps ask around your friends for a new recommendation and discuss over a nice cup of tea. Alternatively, take the chance to join a book club, either in person or online (Reese’s Book Club here) (Richard & Judy Book Club here). Whichever end of the introversion-extraversion continuum you are on, reading can be the friend you need.

Reading can not only be a sociable activity and pleasure, but it can also have powerful, practical purpose. A whole host of research has shown reading can improve writing, vocabulary, spelling and even test scores. Of course, there is more to reading, and life, than simply doing well in school. Reading fiction has been shown to reduce prejudice, improving perspective and attitudes towards stigmatized groups (research here). Here at Be Kind Movement, we are all about promoting kindness and emotional wellbeing. Reading can be a powerful tool for learning more about mental health and managing life’s challenges, be that for yourself, or to support others (reading list here).

I will conclude with some wisdom from one of my favourite writers. Matt Haig is both a wonderful writer and an important advocate for mental health. Haig describes the life affirming power of reading beautifully: “Every time I read a great book I felt I was reading a kind of map, a treasure map, and the treasure I was being directed to was in actual fact myself (Reasons to Stay Alive).”

Happy reading!

Amy, Educational Researcher at Be Kind Movement

Amy from Be Kind Movement

Taking a fresh look at gentle giants...

Discover how you can help these gentle giants by being kind to the planet!

At the Be Kind Movement, we tend to focus on human to human kindness, but kindness to nature is also so important. Nature does a lot for us, so it's only fair we do what we can for nature.

International whale shark day (which happened on 30 August) is designed to raise awareness about protecting these amazing creatures which are vital to our ocean's ecosystems. They are also the world’s largest fish!

How do they help our ocean?

The food chain

Whale sharks are at the top of their food chain meaning that they have no other natural predators. Studies have shown that when a predator at the top of the food chain numbers decrease, its prey overpopulates massively and then eats all of its food supply - this then has a knock-on effect down the food chain. This is why it is so important to help stop the endangerment of whale sharks.

They show us the health of our oceans

Whilst whale sharks travel alone normally they often come together in large groups where plankton is abundant. The large amounts of whale sharks and plankton indicate the healthiness of the oceans.

Why do they need our help?

Plastic pollution

Like a lot of ocean creatures at the moment, whale sharks are suffering because of the increase of plastic in our oceans today. This affects the whale sharks in multiple ways, not only affecting their health by accidentally eating plastic but also their prey and habitats are being majorly affected by plastic pollution.

Fishing

Whale sharks feed close to the bottom of the ocean which means that they are very vulnerable to mass fishing nets. These nets are huge and are dragged across the bottom of oceans to catch fish, destroying the habitats and unfortunately being caught in the fishing gear. These majestic creatures are also caught for their fins as they are seen as a delicacy in some countries, even though their fins hold no nutritional value.

How can we help them with kindness?

Be kind to our planet

By recycling picking up litter and switching to plastic-free items where you can, we can reduce the plastic in our oceans and in turn help the whale sharks!

Adopt a whale shark

If you'd like to adopt one of these marvellous creatures to protect them you can through WWF who are fighting to protect the whale shark from further endangerment. Helping in any way you can not only help the whale shark but can help you feel good too!

Be kind to the ocean wildlife

One major way in which you can help the wildlife of the ocean, in general, is by reducing your fish intake or only eating fish from sustainable fishing. The marine conservation society has a Good Fish Guide to help you make more sustainable choices!

It is so important to be kind to our planet and the animals in it, so do what you can to help a whale shark today!

Useful links…

WWF

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale-shark

Shark Trust

https://www.sharktrust.org/pages/category/discover-sharks?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsZKJBhC0ARIsAJ96n3Xaj2-nGqK3FVjrMcOYSOYyS3yL9pBL2f-UbSbeQNOLfvOTWE0X2iwaAgYDEALw_wcB

Vote for us to win a Tesco Community Grant!

We are delighted that Be Kind Movement's application to the Tesco Community Grants Scheme has been successful and our project will be put forward to a customer vote in Tesco stores from end of July onwards. 

This means that within Tesco stores in the London borough of Wandsworth, you will be able to vote in-store for Be Kind Movement up until the 30th September 2021. 

The project with the highest number of votes will receive £1,500, second place will receive £1,000 and third place £500. Securing the votes of those in Wandsworth means we will be able to allocate the funding towards the Kindness in School Programme. 

How to vote:
You can vote by making a purchase of any value within a Tesco store from the list below. You will receive one token per transaction and it's not necessary to purchase a carrier bag in order to receive a token.

To check the location of the stores below, please go to the Tesco website.

• Balham Express SW17 7BL

• Battersea Rise Exp SW11 1HG

• Putney High St Exp SW15 1SU

• Putney Upr Richmnd Rd SW15 5QJ

• Earlsfield Statn Exp SW18 4SW

• Prince Of Wales Exp SW11 4FA

• Tooting Exp SW17 0PZ

• Falcon Battersea Exp SW11 2PJ

• Upper Tooting Exp SW17 7EN

• Tooting Broadway Exp SW17 9PE

• Earlsfield Garret Exp SW18 4ED

• Battersea SW11 4NE

• Wandsworth Hi St Exp SW18 4HY

• Wandsworth Batt R Exp SW18 1TW

• Southfields Re Rd Exp SW18 5LS

• Summerstown Grrat Exp SW17 0NT

Do:
- Cast your vote as soon as you receive your token for a project in the current voting round
- Only submit Community Grants tokens to cast your vote
- Encourage your friends and family to vote at their local stores

Thank you for your support in helping us spread kindness within our community.

Introducing Kind Natured

We have some exciting news here at Be Kind Movement!

We are delighted to be partnering with Kind Natured who are a unique beauty brand that put people and planet at the heart of all they do, something which resonates deeply with all of us at Be Kind Movement. 

Kind Natured products, sold at your local retailers such as Boots, will proudly display the Be Kind Movement logo and the charity will receive a contribution that is based on % of net sales for all products sold. And their products are 100% recyclable and vegan friendly, using ethically sourced ingredients. 

Every penny raised from Kind Natured’s sale of products will help us reach more children. This means we can support them to develop vital emotional intelligence skills, building a kinder, fairer and happier world for everyone.

I hope you enjoy discovering Kind Natured!

Would you like to partner with Be Kind Movement?

Email us today on info@bekindmovement.co.uk

South West Londoner interviews Be Kind Movement Founder...

Read the interview with our founder Premila on page 28 of the South West Londoner magazine.

Things to Look Forward to in 2021 and Beyond!

With the UK being a few weeks into another strict lockdown, each worrying news story we read can make the current situation feel overwhelming. It’s important to try and keep a positive mental attitude to get through these difficult times together, and with that being easier said than done, we think it’s more important than ever to think about the future and some of the positive things we can look forward to in 2021 and beyond. 

Meeting up with friends and family
Zoom calls have been a blessing to so many people since the first lockdown in March 2020, but nothing can compare to socialising face-to-face with our nearest and dearest. There will likely still be restrictions for some time to come, but we cannot wait to meet up in person with our friends and family and make many more happy memories when it is safe to do so.

Lighter nights and warmer weather
As much as we love the cosy winter nights, by the time January and February come around we are fully ready for Spring to bloom and the nights to get lighter. More hours of daylight and warmer temperatures mean we can spend more time outdoors and enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons as flowers begin to bloom and trees flourish with shades of green. Difficult times just seem that little bit easier when the sun is shining!

Getting back to work and school 
For many of us, routine and purpose are the things that keep us grounded and stable in daily life, and while the furlough scheme has been an amazing support to so many people unable to work during the pandemic, many have unfortunately lost their jobs. We must stay positive and hopeful for the time where the economy will thrive again, employment will improve and furlough will be a thing of the past. We will get there. 

A big shout out to all of the parents who are homeschooling, remember you’re doing your best, the kids will get back to school and into a routine in the near future. And a massive THANK YOU to all of the amazing keyworkers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic.

Eating out in our favourite restaurants
Hospitality has been hit hard by the pandemic and many restaurants across the country have been forced to close for much of the past year. While some people have taken up home cooking as a new lockdown hobby, many are still looking forward to treating themselves to a lovely meal in their favourite restaurant. We are so lucky in the UK to have such a diverse mix of culture and food available, and not having to do the dishes is a bonus!

Going on holiday
Many of us have enjoyed discovering the beautiful scenery right on our doorstep recently, but we cannot wait to pack a suitcase and head off for a well deserved break away from home. With travel abroad so uncertain right now, you may wish to visit some of the stunning coastal towns or cultural cities in the UK. Maybe you’ve got plans for new destinations to explore once it’s safe to do so. Whatever your next holiday looks like, spending some quality time relaxing and having fun is what we all need right now!

The first live concert or show post-lockdown
The majority of live entertainment was cancelled indefinitely back in the first lockdown and has never resumed for many venues and events. Online and virtual concerts have given us that live music fix in recent months, however, there is simply no comparison to the atmosphere and buzz of being in the crowd at a live show. Remember dancing? It’s been quite a long time, but even with our slightly embarrassing, rusty dance moves, we’ll be the first ones on the dance floor when that delightful time eventually comes. 

Planning for the future
Many things in our lives have been put on hold for almost a year, but with advancements in Covid testing and the vaccine roll-out well under way, we can finally look to the future and begin planning for all the exciting times ahead. Whether you’re getting married, planning to travel, buy a house, or starting that new hobby you’ve always wanted to get into, it may still be a while off yet, but now is the time to start thinking about your goals and dreams for the future.

Whatever you’re looking forward to when restrictions ease, one thing is certain for us all, we will appreciate our freedoms so much more than ever before. That well known phrase - we don’t truly appreciate what we have until it’s gone - has never been more relevant. So be grateful for what you have now, for your friendships and relationships, and don’t take anything for granted!

If you would like to keep up to date with Be Kind Movement, subscribe to our
e-newsletter HERE.

For more positive content and kindness inspiration, head over to our YouTube channel.

Our #SmallBusinessStars Partners December 2020

Here at Be Kind Movement, we aim to promote the development of emotional intelligence skills in children and young people through the education of kindness. To achieve our goal, the continued collaboration with our partners is vital to raise awareness for our work.

Calmer is the official Wellbeing Partner for Be Kind Movement, and work closely with us to instil the importance of education and the impact of kindness, through training and joint projects.

As a renowned training organisation, they specialise in empowering entrepreneurs, freelancers and business teams through a range of digital products, such as, webinars, online memberships and training courses.

The award-winning company conducts training for individuals and businesses on how to manage mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. While the Calmer Community online membership is designed to reduce stress, with 24/7 access to a host of wellbeing resources.

Never Forget Marketing is a marketing company that specialises in charity communications and branding strategy. Just as the name suggests, by making your brand visible and sustainable, current and future customers will never forget you.

Never Forget Marketing is the official Marketing Partner for Be Kind Movement. They offer a range of services such as brand imagery and guidelines, digital media marketing, staff training and effective communication solutions.

Kind Natured is a vegan-friendly beauty brand known for their commitment to creating gorgeous formulations blended with the best of nature. Their hair, skin and body care products are carefully produced to meet a 97% natural promise. Their affordable products are available to buy online, and offer delivery both within and outside the UK.

Kind Natured are our sponsors for our Christmas Cards delivered during Be Kind Movement’s Kindness At Christmas Campaign.

It may be a Christmas like no other this festive season, but it’s always a time for love and laughter, perfect for extending a gesture of kindness.

Could your business support us?

You can become our partner by joining our Small Business Star funding, a donation scheme for small businesses that wish to give back with a little kindness.

Here’s how…

We’ve teamed up with fundraising platform, Work for Good, who will be doubling donations in December, up to the value of £500 per business whilst funds remain.

From Etsy entrepreneurs to altruistic accountants, we're inviting your business to get involved in this festive fundraising opportunity. Join the Small Business Star match funding campaign and donate a proportion of your product’s sales or services and help us to raise vital funds.

Get involved and become a #SmallBusinessStar…

Step 1. Sign up for free at workforgood.co.uk referencing Be Kind Movement when prompted.
Step 2. Pledge a proportion of sales from your products or services, or a one-off Christmas donation to us, and share your fundraising campaign with your customers or clients.

Step 3. Once the donation has been paid through your Work for Good account, they will then double this up to £500 per business between 1st - 31st December, whilst funds remain. We will receive your generous donation and use it make a difference to children in the UK.

Even though the festivities may be a little different this year, we know that together we can make this a feel-good Christmas!

Thank you for your continued support from all of us here at Be Kind Movement.

Choosing Kindness Over Bullying November 2020

Claire is startled by a sound, shivering with fear on her bed, coupled with intermittent panic attacks. Nowadays she's startled by almost every kind of sound.

She feels tired and confused. She is also distracted with thoughts of how to fight back when Blair and her entourage crosses her path in school today.

Bullying is an act that has been around for a while and it is known to manifest in different forms, either pronounced or subtle. The effect is usually psychological rather than physical.

The act of suppressing or intimidating an individual, stripping them of their right to speak, or to express themselves in any way can be perceived to be an act of bullying.

Bullying is not limited to relationships where there is an upward hierarchy such as between a boss and an employee. It can also occur between people operating on a similar level and calibre but with one side feeling superior than the other. Dominating, demeaning and repressive behaviour can also occur in schools, offices, cyberspace and within our communities.

Different forms of bullying:

Physical Bullying

This is the most common and easily identifiable type of bullying as it involves the attacker inflicting physical pain on their victims. You don’t always have to be the physically stronger person to bully someone as bullying can manifest in many ways, as identified below.

Verbal Bullying

This type of bullying involves calling people names, using demeaning words or swearing at someone to deliberately hurt them. Often this type of aggressive behaviour is done to gain psychological power over the victims’ emotions and right of choice.

Relational Bullying

Similar to manipulation, this is a subtle form of bullying that is targeted at both the victim’s emotions and their relationship with others. The bully spreads rumours publicly and is capable of using aggressive confrontation.

Cyberbullying

This is when the internet is used as a medium to harass and maliciously attack an individual, by digital bullies.‘Trolls’ is the term used to describe faceless and nameless perpetrators. who sadly have been responsible for the increase in the number of suicides.

Sexual Bullying

A terrifying form of bullying that can lead to sexual acts that are harmful and humiliating, with potential for repeated occurrences. Uninvited touching, vulgar languages, name-calling or sexting are examples of this type of bullying.

Prejudicial Bullying

When people are bullied due to differences, which could be based on grounds of culture, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or colour. More often than not, the victims usually belong to a minority group and are singled out for such an attack.

The repercussion of being bullyied…

Claire became very doubtful of everything. Do I look beautiful, is my hair well packed, are my shoes clean enough? Do my eyes really look funny? Am I fat? Maybe I am not as intelligent as I presume?

Claire had to live each day battling with “trying to be good enough”.

Bullying can cause victims to have self-esteem issues with damaging and far-reaching consequences. The person being bullied begins to undervalue themselves, is psychologically traumatised, has poor self-worth with body image issues. At work, losing confidence when dealing with your boss and peers can be professionally damaging to their career.

Some Bully-Victims rise up and become bullies themselves in the quest for regaining a sense of power and control in their lives. In this case, bullying is a learnt behaviour. Other types of bullies are Popular bullies, Serial Bullies, Group Bullies and indifferent bullies.

How can we tackle bullying?

Here at Be Kind Movement, we believe in choosing kindness.. Our Kindness in School Programme (KISP) propagates ten values of kindness which includes empathy. When we show empathy and compassion to others, and go out of our way to make them happy, we find our own happiness too, physically (as proven by science) and emotionally.

But bullying is more complex than simply making a choice, so it often takes everyone involved to identify, and deal with the root causes of bullying. All forms of bullying whether subtle or direct, should be reported whether at school, to your boss or to the higher authority governing the institution or state where the act is been perpetuated.

Both the Bully and the victim should receive support and Bullying UK offers a confidential helpline to support people affected by bullying. This week we are proud to support their campaign for anti-bullying week 2020. Find out more about them today at https://www.bullying.co.uk.