A vital new resource designed to address sectarian bullying among children and young people in Northern Ireland has been launched by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), with research from Stranmillis University College forming its core.

The "All Together" guide for the children's workforce, alongside a research report and a free CPD-certified online training course, draws directly from work conducted by the Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement (CREU) at Stranmillis in partnership with the ABA.

The initiative comes as new research reveals troubling evidence of persistent sectarian bullying across Northern Ireland, ranging from verbal abuse to physical violence and social exclusion. Surveys and focus groups conducted with young people uncovered a worrying trend: many are desensitised to sectarian abuse and often only report incidents when they escalate to physical harm.

Stranmillis' research underscores the urgent need for schools, youth services, and community organisations to proactively tackle sectarian bullying. Encouragingly, the study also highlighted the positive impact of shared education and open dialogue in reducing prejudice and fostering inclusion among young people. Building on these findings, Stranmillis collaborated with the ABA to develop practical, research-informed resources. The "All Together" guide and its accompanying online training course are specifically designed to equip educators, youth workers, and community leaders with the essential knowledge and tools required to identify, prevent, and respond effectively to sectarian bullying.

The project has received support from the Reconciliation Fund of the Republic of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, underscoring the importance of cross-community efforts in fostering safer and more inclusive environments for young people across Northern Ireland.

Professor Noel Purdy OBE, Director of Research and Scholarship at Stranmillis University College, commented on the launch: "This Guide and Online Training Course for the Children's Workforce (i.e. professionals that work with children and young people), based on our timely piece of research, shines a spotlight on a problem that is too often overlooked or trivialised as normal and acceptable behaviour." He added that the resource, drawing on the "voices of children and young people themselves," provides "a compelling and at times deeply uncomfortable account of how sectarian attitudes and behaviours continue to blight their lives. It also reveals how such bullying behaviour is experienced, responded to and, in some cases, ignored."

For more information and to access the resources, visit the Anti-Bullying Alliance's website