And
you're invited to the Open Event!
The UK’s only Centre to provide a range of services to tackle
the growing problem of workplace bullying is to open on 1st
May 2006. Set up by the not-for-profit organisation Just Fight
On! [JFO], the Centre Against Workplace Bullying UK
will
offer advice, training, counselling,
coaching, hypnotherapy and a research library. The
Centre is holding an Open Event on 28th April, where Home
Office Minister Fiona MacTaggart will be speaking.
Ironically, the centre in Slough is based in the infamous
building from the
TV program ‘The Office’, which 'documented' the antics of the
now-redundant David Brent. The aim
of the organisation and its Centre is to provide
employees with advice and support services, focusing on
prevention, intervention and recovery from the
often-devastating effects of workplace bullying.
Jo Anne Brown, the founder and Chairman of JFO, said ‘Bullying
is a hazard of the
workplace. It can destroy an individual’s self-esteem and
confidence and wreck their health and career. The TUC
estimate that up to 2 million are bullied at work in the UK
every year, so the opening of the Centre will provide a
welcome one-stop shop for those who need help, support and
advice.'
Photo:
Jo Anne Brown running
workplace
bullying awareness
training for the local voluntary sector
JFO has also been designed with the longer-term aim
of
providing voluntary and paid employment opportunities for
people who have been bullied out of their jobs. Part of a recent
grant
from the
European Social Fund enables JFO to compile a Return To
Work Toolkit, which will identify barriers and potential solutions
to getting back into work.
Just Fight On! was started in 2004 by Jo Anne Brown after her
own experience of workplace bullying, which led to her being
ill-health
retired at the age of 35. Asked if the Centre only dealt with
workplace bullying, Jo said ‘We also deal with harassment,
discrimination, unfair and constructive dismissal, stress,
whistleblowing and
equal pay. This is because bullying often involves more than
just
'bullying'.'
Go to the Just Fight On! website
Invitation to the Centre's Open Event – 28th April 2006
JFO are holding an open event for the Centre on Friday
28th
April when
Slough MP and Home Office Minister Fiona
MacTaggart will be speaking.
JFO’s directors will also be speaking at the event –
- Jo Anne Brown - Founder & Chairman
- Nick Hanning - the lawyer taking the high profile Majrowski
vs Guys & St Thomas NHS Trust harassment case to the House
of Lords on May 10th
- Professor Agi Oldfield - Professor of
Organisational Behaviour
- Damian Stoupe - Psychotherapist
- Jess Pryce-Jones - workplace consultant and expert from
the TV series Making Slough Happy
JFO warmly welcomes you to attend the event, where
you will
have the
opportunity to:
- Hear a Home Office Minister's views about workplace
bullying
- Hear about JFO’s plans for the Centre
- Meet our directors, volunteers and centre staff
- Speak out about your experiences of workplace bullying
and
how it has affected your life, or representatives from groups
who wish to speak out about what they feel needs to change to
tackle bullying effectively
- Network with the press to get your story in the press -
many of the press will be looking for a case study to go with
their piece on the
Centre [or for future stories]
Open Event Agenda
10.30am Coffee
11.00am Speeches
11.40am Open Floor - An opportunity for the Minister, JFO and
the press to hear the views of individuals and groups: how has
bullying affected you, what do you think should be done and
what isn't being done to tackle workplace bullying? This is an
open forum, what do
you want to say?
12.00 Q&A session
12.15pm Networking, buffet and refreshments until 1.30pm
Please RSVP for catering numbers
About Just Fight On!
Just Fight On! is a not-for-profit organisation, limited by
guarantee. We rely on the kind donations of supporters and the
provision of services to fund the majority of our
work. All donations are gratefully received, and may be sent to
the address below [cheques made payable to Just Fight On!
please].
All photos in this press release are the copyright of Jim Allen, a
JFO volunteer.
You are welcome to reproduce them, or any other photo in our
gallery, in return for a donation
to Just Fight On! This will help support JFO's work and also the
photographer, who, like many others, was bullied out of his job.
