The Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF) has a Membership of over twenty regional statutory and voluntary organisations all acting together to end bullying of children and young people.

NIABF members formally meet three times a year to implement the Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Strategy (.pdf 1.6mb) by discussing anti-bullying policy and practice. This strategic group is responsible for identifying and championing future anti-bullying priorities for children and young people. The 3 Year Report (.pdf 6.1Mb) of this was published in May 2009.

NIABF has a range of different Task Groups which focus on anti-bullying themes and put into action work that is required to further develop the anti-bullying strategy. These operational groups are made up of Forum members and additional organisations with relevant expertise (linked to the group’s theme).

Current Task Groups include:

Anti-Bullying Week – planning NIABF activities for Anti-Bullying Week each year.  Membership of this group changes according to the theme that year’s Anti-Bullying Week is aiming to raise awareness of.
Communications – ensuring NIABF communications are consistent and effectively in line with our media strategy.  
Disablist  Bullying – developing NIABF information and updates regarding bullying related to perceived or actual disability.
Homophobic Bullying– developing NIABF information and updates regarding bullying related to perceived or actual sexual orientation.
Participation – supporting children, young people, parents and carers to engage in influencing future anti-bullying priorities.

NIABF also hosts an Inter-Board Anti-Bullying Group.  This group consists of the five Education and Library Boards (ELBs) and NIABF, and its purpose is to promote shared anti-bullying policy and practice through collaborative working within and across the five ELBs.

NIABF is hosted and chaired by Save the Children.  Save the Children employs a Regional Anti-Bullying Coordinator to guide and progress the implementation of the anti-bullying strategy.  The Department of Education funds NIABF.

NIABF is represented on the British and Irish Anti-Bullying Forum that comprises one statutory and one voluntary representative each from England, Scotland, Wales, and from both jurisdictions in Ireland.