Welcome to a world free of bullying

The Mary Foundation and Save the Children Denmark launched the Free of Bullying anti-bullying programme in 2007 on the initiative of Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark.

Free of Bullying is the international version of the Danish programme “Fri for Mobberi”. Launched in response to interest from other countries, Free of Bullying is now being implemented in childcare facilities and schools in Greenland, The Faroe Islands, Estonia, Iceland, Romania and France.

The purpose of Free of Bullying is to foster a world in which all children feel part of a community – no matter where they live.

To realise our vision, we aim to:

  • share the community-based view of bullying with organisations in other countries who share our commitment to improving the lives of children;
  • provide empirical information about the causes of and effective measures to prevent bullying, so that these organisations may learn from and spread this knowledge in their own countries; and
  • support organisations who want to join our efforts to eradicate bullying among children through our Free of Bullying programme and Competence Centre.

If this sparks your organisation’s interest, please keep reading! And feel free to contact us directly too.

Free of bullying timeline

  • 2022

     

    France joins the Free of Bullying family.

  • 2020

    Romania starts piloting their local version of Free of Bullying – Să fim prieteni

     

    2020

  • 2019

     

    The Free of Bullying age group is expanded to include children up to age 9

  • 2018

    The Faroe Islands adopts Free of Bullying and names it Betri Vinir

     

    2018

  • 2017

  • 2016

    A Free of Bullying suitcase aimed at facilitating the work with the youngest children in childcare facilities (0–3 years) comes to life

    2016

  • 2014

     

    Free of Bullying arrives in Iceland under the name Vinátta

  • 2013

    A qualitative evaluation focusing on the impact of Free of Bullying is conducted by the research institute Oxford Research.

    2013

  • 2011

     
  • 2010

    Greenland introduces Free of Bullying – and calls it Kammagiitta

     

    2010

  • 2008

    The Free of Bullying Children’s Run is hosted for the first time in Denmark’s two largest cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus.

  • 2007

    Fri for Mobberi is officially launched in Denmark

    The pilot test completed earlier in the year is documented and evaluated by Jan Kampmann and his colleagues from the Centre for Childhood, Youth and Family Life Research at Roskilde University

    The Mary Foundation is established and together with Save the Children Denmark launches the Free of Bullying programme on the initiative of H.M Queen Mary of Denmark, after being inspired by the Better Buddies programme in Australia. The first version of the Free of Bullying suitcase is piloted in pre-schools and primary schools in three Danish municipalities

    2007

  • 2006

    A steering committee is established with a view to developing a preventive programme against bullying aimed at 4 to 8-year-old children.

  • 2005

    Save the Children Denmark receives the Crown Prince Couple’s Award. The DKK 250,000 donation kickstarts Save The Children Denmark’s anti-bullying agenda.

    2005

more about the founders

The Mary Foundation and Save the Children Denmark are equal partners in the Free of Bullying programme.

The Mary Foundation, H.M Queen Mary’s Foundation, was founded in 2007. The Mary Foundation’s social work revolves around its basic philosophy, which is that everyone has the right to belong. Its mission is to prevent and alleviate social isolation, to foster tolerance and understanding of diversity, and to create hope.

Save the Children Denmark forms part of Save the Children, which is the largest independent children’s rights organisation in the world. Save the Children strives to protect children’s rights worldwide and offers both urgent and long-term support for vulnerable children.

Education and protection are at the heart of Save the Children’s work. The organisation offers relief aid and focuses on children’s participation, survival, development, education and protection.