Odd Socks Day is part of Anti-Bullying Week, and is taking place today on Monday 15th November to help raise awareness of bullying. The day sends an important message that we should all be allowed to be ourselves, free from bullying. By wearing odd socks, we celebrate all the ways we are different, and unique!
cBeebies superstar Andy Day is playing Dandini in our Christmas pantomime, Cinderella, this December. Andy and his band, the Odd Socks, are patrons of the Anti-Bullying-Alliance (ABA) and support Odd Socks Day every year. They even have a fun, new song you can listen to on the ABA website.
Here at York Theatre Royal, we are all celebrating Odd Socks Day together alongside Andy and the Cinderella cast. Even Gordon is getting in on the fun! You can listen to what he has to say on the York Theatre Royal Instagram page. People all across the country are wearing odd socks today, to raise awareness of bullying. Last year over 7 million people got involved.
The theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying campaign is ‘One Kind Word’. The Anti-Bullying Alliance says “In a world that can sometimes feel like it’s filled with negativity, one kind word can provide a moment of hope. It can be a turning point. It can change someone’s perspective. It can change their day. It can change the course of a conversation and break the cycle of bullying. Best of all, one kind word leads to another. Kindness fuels kindness. So, from the playground to parliament, and from our phones to our homes, together our actions can fire a chain reaction that powers positivity. It starts with one kind word.”
So how can you take part in Odd Socks Day? There is no pressure to wear the latest fashion or to buy expensive costumes. All you have to do to take part is wear odd socks to your school, at work or at home, it couldn’t be simpler! Participants are also invited to make a donation to the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which can be done on their website here.
You can also get involved on social media. For the past seven years, Anti-Bullying Week has been a viral trend, flooding social media with a unified voice against bullying. Use the hashtags #AntiBullyingWeek #OneKindWord and #OddSocksDay to show your support. There will also be a competition run by the Anti-Bullying Alliance for the best pet in odd socks. All you have to do is share a video or picture of your furry friend on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtags #PetsInOddSocks and #OddSocksDay and tag the Anti-Bullying Alliance in your post.
By Kitty Wenham
