National Bullying Helpline closes 2

Governance | Vibeka Mair | 10 Jan 2011

The National Bullying Helpline has closed due to lack of funding and the resignation of its founder and chief executive, Christine Pratt.

A spokesman for the charity said an increased workload and trying to secure funding for the charity had taken its toll on Pratt’s health:

“This last year, calls to our helpline have trebled and we have had to take on additional volunteers and resources to meet demand,” he said. “Undoubtedly, the closure of our charity will be a great loss to the public.”

The National Bullying Helpline (NBH) was embroiled in a political row last year after Pratt claimed that the charity had received calls from No.10 staff following accusations in the press that Gordon Brown had bullied civil servants.

In a video on the BBC news website, Pratt said she was not suggesting that Gordon Brown was a bully, but claimed staff in his office with issues and concerns had contacted the National Bullying Helpline.

In another BBC video, Pratt denied claims that her actions were politically motivated.

Pratt’s actions led to the resignation of all of NBH's charity patrons, including Tory MP Ann Widdecome who complained that Pratt has breached caller confidentiality.

The charity is still being investigated by the Charity Commission who opened a statutory inquiry into NBH last year in the wake of 160 complaints it received following the Gordon Brown bullying row.

In a statement the Commission said concerns had been raised about the protection of confidential information held by the charity as a result of the operation of the charity's helpline for victims of bullying.

The Helplines Association said in a statement that the Charity Commission’s forthcoming statement on its investigation into the charity would “finally draw a line under the controversy”.

Directory: Charity Commission | The Telephone Helplines Association

Place a comment

Andrew Taylor
19 Jan 2011

I am as a person who has been involved in the issue of workplace bullying thankful that this charity has finally been closed down. Contary to popular belief this charity was not bullied out of existance by political subtefuge but by the actions and conduct of the organisation itself.

[Reply]

Lomond Handley
10 Jan 2011

I'm not in the least surprised that the work of this excellent charity has been curtailed, after the powers that be were made aware of serious allegations within certain government departments and it showes just how vindictive some politicians can be when such scandals are exposed.
The Charity Commissioners ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
As a victim of bullying in the workplace, I appreciate how necessary it is to have organisations such as this charity and I deplore the undermining of it.

[Reply]

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