Want to try our resources? Sign up for our 14-Day Free Trial

Demo & Training
Business & Organisations
Terms & Conditions

Are you comfortable advocating for yourself?

07th - 11th November 2025

Back to results

56376

Total votes

11973

5-11 votes

44403

11-16+ votes

Between 10th-14th November, over 7.5 million people around the UK marked Anti-Bullying Week and discussed its theme for 2025, “Power for Good”. It aimed to spark discussions about how to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes. Often, these conversations focus on how we can stand up for others when we see them being bullied, which is an important conversation to have. However, what happens when we need to stand up for ourselves? This VoteTopic asked young people to consider how comfortable they would feel advocating for themselves in difficult situations.

VotesforSchools also held their annual Anti-Bullying Week Student Webinars, which gave young people the opportunity to delve more deeply into the subject of bullying and how to tackle it.

Secondary & College voters discussed: "Are you comfortable advocating for yourself?", while Primary 5-11 voters were asked: “Is it easy to stand up for yourself?”

56,376 young people in the UK have taken part in this vote.

Age 5-11 voter

I think for me personally I am very good at standing up for myself and whoever is right even if my friends are wrong. I’m also good at telling who is wrong and I’m not scared of telling my friends they‘re wrong.

Age 11-16 voter

Yes, because the more you do it, the more it gets easier. It can be hard doing it but I am pretty confident.

Age 11-16 voter

I voted no for myself, however I will always advocate for friends and family if needed.

65% of Primary pupils said it's easy to stand up for yourself.

  • Primary pupils were discussing the question, "Is it easy to stand up for yourself?"
  • The majority, at 65% voted 'Yes'.
Meanwhile, 75% of Secondary students said they felt comfortable advocating for themselves.

  • Secondary, College and 16+ students were voting on the question, "Are you comfortable advocating for yourself?"
  • 75% of Secondary students and 82% of 16+ & College students voted 'Yes'.
Many said context matters, as they feel comfortable standing up for themselves in some situations but not others.

  • Some said they feared the consequences of standing up for themselves, such as making the bullying worse or getting told off by a teacher.
  • Others said the more they advocate for themselves, the more comfortable they become.
results