National Bullying Helpline
Encyclopedia
The National Bullying Helpline was a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom
. It was established as a business in 2006 by Christine and David Pratt, appearing to service the needs of victims of workplace bullying
, and was awarded charity status in 2007. The helpline, which is based in Swindon
, claims to be based on the work of Tim Field
, who ran a workplace bullying advice line from 1996 until 2004.
The helpline was originally based in the same offices as another company run by the Pratts. In 2002 they had established an HR consultancy, "HR & Diversity Management Ltd", that specialises in helping employers to resolve disputes, claiming "During 2006 25% of cases found that the instigator (of a complaint of bullying), the alleged victim, was in fact, the bully".
According to public records provided by Companies House, during 2008 Mrs Pratt resigned her directorship of both HR & Diversity Management Ltd and the National Bullying Helpline Ltd. She remained the CEO of the helpline, while David Pratt remained a director of both organisations.
In February 2010, following media coverage of accusations by Andrew Rawnsley
that Gordon Brown
had bullied members of his staff, Ms. Pratt claimed that the helpline had taken calls from Downing Street
staff, although she later stated that the callers made no accusations against Brown himself. This led to the resignations of all of the charity's patrons, including Cary Cooper
, Ann Widdecombe
and Sarah Cawood
. The Charity Commission
has said that it has received over 160 complaints about the helpline's handling of the situation. As a result of the fallout, the helpline was voluntarily suspended, but then resumed service on 26 February.
In March 2010 the Charity Commission opened a Statuory Investigation after concerns had been raised about "the protection of confidential information held by the charity" and "issues surrounding referrals understood to have been made by the charity to a business connected with one of its trustees." By June 2010 the investigation had not been completed, and Civil Society magazine reported that Christine Pratt had criticised the Charity Commission’s investigation in a letter to the helpline's supporters, calling the Commission's processes “far from fair, open and transparent”, and complaining that the commission "probe deeper and deeper into seemingly irrelevant aspects of our day-to-day operations".
In January 2011 the charity folded, citing lack of funds and the resignation of its chief executive as reasons.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was established as a business in 2006 by Christine and David Pratt, appearing to service the needs of victims of workplace bullying
Workplace bullying
Workplace bullying, like childhood bullying, is the tendency of individuals or groups to use persistent aggressive or unreasonable behaviour against a co-worker or subordinate. Workplace bullying can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, physical abuse and humiliation...
, and was awarded charity status in 2007. The helpline, which is based in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, claims to be based on the work of Tim Field
Tim Field
Tim Field .was a prominent British anti-bullying activist with his main focus relating to workplace bullying....
, who ran a workplace bullying advice line from 1996 until 2004.
The helpline was originally based in the same offices as another company run by the Pratts. In 2002 they had established an HR consultancy, "HR & Diversity Management Ltd", that specialises in helping employers to resolve disputes, claiming "During 2006 25% of cases found that the instigator (of a complaint of bullying), the alleged victim, was in fact, the bully".
According to public records provided by Companies House, during 2008 Mrs Pratt resigned her directorship of both HR & Diversity Management Ltd and the National Bullying Helpline Ltd. She remained the CEO of the helpline, while David Pratt remained a director of both organisations.
In February 2010, following media coverage of accusations by Andrew Rawnsley
Andrew Rawnsley
Andrew Nicholas James Rawnsley is a British political journalist, notably for The Observer, and broadcaster.-Early life:...
that Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
had bullied members of his staff, Ms. Pratt claimed that the helpline had taken calls from Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
staff, although she later stated that the callers made no accusations against Brown himself. This led to the resignations of all of the charity's patrons, including Cary Cooper
Cary Cooper
Cary Cooper CBE is a Canadian psychologist and Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University Management School.Prior to working at Lancaster University, Cooper was Head of the Manchester School of Management from the early 80s, In 1995 he became Pro-Vice Chancellor and...
, Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe
Ann Noreen Widdecombe is a former British Conservative Party politician and has been a novelist since 2000. She is a Privy Councillor and was the Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 1997 and for Maidstone and The Weald from 1997 to 2010. She was a social conservative and a member of...
and Sarah Cawood
Sarah Cawood
Sarah Cawood is an English television presenter.-Career:Cawood grew up in the Cambridgeshire village of Maxey and was educated at Stamford High School, Lincolnshire near Peterborough, United Kingdom. She also attended the Royal Ballet School and Arts Educational Schools London.Between 1995 and...
. The Charity Commission
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
has said that it has received over 160 complaints about the helpline's handling of the situation. As a result of the fallout, the helpline was voluntarily suspended, but then resumed service on 26 February.
In March 2010 the Charity Commission opened a Statuory Investigation after concerns had been raised about "the protection of confidential information held by the charity" and "issues surrounding referrals understood to have been made by the charity to a business connected with one of its trustees." By June 2010 the investigation had not been completed, and Civil Society magazine reported that Christine Pratt had criticised the Charity Commission’s investigation in a letter to the helpline's supporters, calling the Commission's processes “far from fair, open and transparent”, and complaining that the commission "probe deeper and deeper into seemingly irrelevant aspects of our day-to-day operations".
In January 2011 the charity folded, citing lack of funds and the resignation of its chief executive as reasons.