Trolls were once mythical creatures who lurked only in the pages of fairy tales, but unfortunately, due to the rise of social media, they’ve now become a very real part of daily life for many. Health and well-being charity, The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, have joined forces with TOWIE star, Bobby Norris, in a bid to empower people from every walk of life, to join in the conversation, say it’s not OK, and champion a change in online behaviour.
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group’s latest campaign titled #FarFromReality will be launched on World Social Media Day (30th June 2019), and is a candid piece to camera where Bobby Norris talks openly about his rise to fame, and the down sides of social media.
Bobby makes no secret of the online abuse he’s subjected to, often taking to Instagram to re-post some of the shocking homophobic messages he receives on a daily basis. As well as raising awareness for The Kaleidoscope Plus Group’s latest campaign, Bobby is petitioning to make online homophobic abuse a hate crime, and the parliamentary debate for Bobby’s Bill will take place on Monday 1st July 2019.
Commenting on the #FarFromReality campaign, Bobby said: ‘No amount of online abuse is going to stop me from campaigning for change. If I use my platform and my voice to speak out, and that stops one more person from suffering, for me, that’s amazing. Our message is clear, to anyone who’s being tormented by online abuse – don’t suffer in silence, tell someone, ask for help. It’s OK to not be OK.
‘The Kaleidoscope Plus Group are an amazing charity who support anyone in need. Their holistic approach to mental health and well-being is a lifeline for many, and I am really proud to be part of their campaign.’
Alongside the video, which encourages people to join in the conversation about online trolling, The Kaleidoscope Plus Group will also be launching a Facebook group to offer people a safe, positive, community space, where they can speak to like-minded individuals and access a wide range of mental health and well-being resources.
CEO of The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, Monica Shafaq said: ‘If you have been, or are being affected by online abuse, it is OK to get help. You will not be branded as weak for doing so. #FarFromReality has been created to remind people that no one is immune to abuse and mental illness. Reality TV stars and celebs are often portrayed to lead “perfect” lives, but what we see on social media, is far from reality. They too struggle with daily life, and Bobby is a prime example of that. He’s a wonderful person, who has been hugely successful in his showbiz career, and we are so humbled that he’s backing our campaign in an effort to stomp out online abuse, help people speak out, and empower everyone to say enough is enough.’
As well as encouraging people to pledge their support for the campaign by sharing selfies and videos using #FarFromReality The Kaleidoscope Plus Group are also urging anyone struggling to deal with online abuse to seek help via their online Self-Help Tool Box.
Established in 1973, The Kaleidoscope Plus group is one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For in 2019′, and supports thousands of people all over the UK each year. The charity offers a wide range of services for those experiencing mental health difficulties including: community outreach initiatives to provide opportunities to people who want to improve their well-being, counselling for young people and adults, corporate mental health training, as well residential care and supported housing for the most vulnerable in society.
Donations can be made to support the charity’s services by Texting TEAMKPG to 70085. 100% of each text will go directly to The Kaleidoscope Plus Group. Texts cost £5 plus 1 standard rate network message.
