 Each region has its own anti-bullying strategy |
An English anti-school bullying group backed by �570,000 of government funding has itself been accused of bullying its member organisations. The Anti-Bullying Alliance is telling prospective members to sign up to a code of conduct, preventing them from criticising it in public.
One charity, Bullying Online, said this was a "gagging clause", stopping debate and amounting to financial blackmail.
But the government said it had "high regard" for the work of the alliance.
Network
The ABA, founded in 2002, became a full government-backed programme last summer.
It has set up a network of regional anti-bullying co-ordinators for England.
They have to set up schemes to work with schools and social services, such as counselling and assertiveness training.
The ABA has 55 member organisations, which have signed the code of conduct.
It advises them "not to speak, write or brief against the alliance or any other member organisation".
Bullying Online's director, Liz Carnell, told BBC News that this was stifling debate about anti-bullying strategies.
She said: "We are not prepared to go along with a code of conduct that compels people not to speak out about how a government-funded body spends money.
"We know of at least one member organisation that has been concerned enough about the code to write to the ABA."
'Clash of interests'
Ms Carnell said the ABA was not accountable and that it had not advertised for the nine regional anti-bullying co-ordinator posts.
The co-ordinator chosen for the south-west region runs a publishing firm called Lucky Duck, whose products include anti-bullying materials.
Ms Carnell said this could create a clash of interests.
She also raised concerns that not all co-ordinators were based in their own regions.
Some members of the ABA had spoken in favour of a "no-blame" approach to bullying.
Ms Carnell said joining the group would prevent experts from speaking out against this "controversial" method.
Bullying Online has had a request for �15,000 of government funding for next year refused.
ABA programme director Gill Frances said its members had put together the code of conduct and that its once-a-term meetings were "full of animated discussion".
She added: "We would really love to have Bullying Online on board.
"The code of conduct is a case of our members getting together and deciding the way to behave."
A Department for Education and Skills spokeswoman said: "Just like any co-operative, the ABA has its codes of conduct to assist its operation. They are most certainly not intended as 'gagging orders'."
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