The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation

The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation is the world's first foundation dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying by raising funds to support those doing real world work to eradicate bullying.

We stand up against bullying regardless of to whom it happens. We support organisations and projects that help stop bullying, help those hurt by bullying and/or help increase equality and diversity. Up to 50% of children and young people and many adults in the UK say they have experienced bullying. People who are bullied feel disconnected, leading to a sense of isolation and loneliness, and can suffer from low self-esteem, increased depression or anxiety and, in extreme cases, a higher risk of suicide.

Since starting in 2012, we are really proud to have been able to award just over £500,000 in grants to 54 projects varying in size and approach, from delivering workshops in schools around the issue of homophobia and transphobia, to educating about hate crime and how to report it, supporting severely bullied children to receive alternative education, and helping victims heal through counseling, and creating plays, videos and music to express feelings and emotions present in bullying situations. 

Funding for projects supporting the LGBT community and tackling homophobia in sport is essential in our work because lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are often targeted by bullies.