PT N YORKS Oct 19 low res

Anti-Bullying Week with…
Andy Day
Primary Times teams up with Andy Day to support Anti-Bullying Week which is
celebrated in over three quarters of schools across the country, 11 th - 15 th November
Andy Day is set to hit our screens in March
2020 with his new CBBC show Andy and the
Band, but the children’s TV star is also busy
playing a leading part in Anti-Bullying Week.
We tracked down the frontman of Andy
and the Odd Socks to find out why tackling
bullying is close to his heart.
When asked how he got involved in bullying
work, Andy explained “I wasn’t bullied at
school, but I saw others who were, and I’ve
seen the effects that bullying has had on
their personal growth into adulthood.
For some it has toughened them and for
many it has diminished their confidence
and potential”.
“It starts young”, he explains. “Having worked
in kid’s TV most of my career, when I got the
chance to be involved in Anti-Bullying week,
it just chimed with me”.
Andy Day has a children’s
band, ‘Andy and the
Odd Socks’, and
together they
came up with
a simple idea for supporting Anti-Bullying
week. “Why not highlight what makes us all
unique with an Odd Socks Day? Children
could celebrate difference and diversity
simply by pulling on a pair of odd socks
and raise some money for a good cause
in the process”.
Odd Socks Day started in 2017 and has
since been a runaway success, raising
over £60,000 to support the Anti-Bullying
Alliance’s work.
Every year Andy records a song to support
the theme of Anti-Bullying and this year’s
theme is ‘Change Starts with Us’. “The
idea is to highlight the changes, the little
things each of us can do, that make
all the difference to someone on
the receiving end of bullying”, Andy explains.
For Andy, tackling bullying “could be
as simple as being there to listen to
someone who is hurting inside. To build
their confidence and support them. Or
thinking twice before posting a hurtful
post on social media. Or speaking out
when banter has crossed the line into
something more harmful.”
“Most of us will experience bullying in some
capacity throughout our lives. Young or
old, we can all do something to show that
bullying is never acceptable.” Andy is working
on the song ‘Change’ and video as we speak.
“All I can say is: think the Muppets meet
Strictly, Odd Socks style! This tune will really
get kids (and grown-ups!) up and dancing!”
In addition to working with Anti-Bullying
week, Andy and the Odd Socks have just
finished filming their new comedy for CBBC
‘Andy and the Band’ and are looking forward
to seeing that broadcast in March 2020.
On top of that, Andy explains, “we’ve had
an amazing summer touring the festival
scene – including performances at the BBC
Summer Social.”
“We’ve been fitting in visits to Odd Socks Day
schools too. Every day is an adventure at the
moment! All our focus now is on making this
year’s Odd Socks Day the biggest and best
one ever!”
Find out more
about how you can get involved at
anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week
Get involved with Odd Socks Day
for Anti-Bullying Week!
Odd Socks Day, with support from SafeToNet, takes place
on Tuesday of Anti Bullying Week – the 12th of November
– and helps raise awareness around anti-bullying.
Odd Socks Day is designed to be fun! It’s an opportunity
for children to express themselves and celebrate their
individuality and what makes us all unique!
There is no pressure on the children to wear the latest
fashion or for parents to buy expensive costumes.
All they have to do to take part is wear odd socks, it
couldn’t be simpler!
We would like to invite children to make a £1
donation - or any donation you think appropriate -
to support us in continuing the week every year.