Leopold Lions Helping Kids Shoot for Kindness, Block Out Bullying

Twelve-year-old Alexander Scott has a message for kids (and adults) across Australia: When you see bullying, be an upstander, not a bystander.

His innovative anti-bullying initiative Shoot for Kindness, Block Out Bullying enlists the help of some of his local basketball heroes to spread the message and encourage kids to stand up against bullying.

The idea came to him while attending a Geelong United NBL1 game, when he saw some of the same kids who bullied him at school lining up to get autographs of the players. “I noticed bullies look up to the same people I do.”

He wondered, what if their heroes took a stand? “I thought if bullies don’t listen to teachers, they might listen to these players.” Alexander took his idea to the Geelong United Basketball team, and the “Shoot for Kindness — Block Out Bullying” initiative was born.

The players were excited to serve as Shoot for Kindness, Block Out Bullying Ambassadors. With them on board, Alexander worked together with a professional director to create a short film encouraging kids to stand up for kindness. The film is played before games, and the player cards featuring team members are handed out to spectators. Posters featuring the player ambassadors are displayed at stadiums around the area.

Lion Morris Piper, of the Leopold Lions Club (V2), is a team manager of the Geelong United NBL1 men’s team and was there that inspirational day two years ago when Alexander first visited the team’s locker room. He was also there when the team agreed to join his initiative. And he’s been with Alexander ever since. “From that point on I have worked with him, his parents, and a whole host of people — who he refers to as his village — to support his Shoot for Kindness, Block Out Bullying project.”

In May of last year, Alexander was invited to speak at a Leopold Lions Club dinner, where he shared his story of being bullied, and his idea to enlist athletes to inspire kindness. “He had every member glued to every word he spoke. At the end of his talk, Alexander received a standing ovation and had a number of members in tears. Something I have never seen in my 17 years as a Proud Lion.” said Morris.

To help him get started, Leopold Lions Club generously donated $500 towards the project, which paid for 3,000 player cards. And four months later, the club presented Alexander with the Barry J Palmer AO ‘Kindness Matters’ Recognition Award.

Alexander has taken his presentation to numerous community clubs and organisations, local MPs offices, area schools, and has even addressed a room full of 300 guests, including the Deputy Prime Minister, at the Geelong Advertiser’s Future Geelong Summit.

The Shoot for Kindness, Block Out Bullying program has been adopted by other outreach groups as well. The Community Engagement Police Unit from Geelong, The Surf Coast and The Bellarine are showing the short film and giving out player cards to schools as part of their Bullying Presentation.

In addition to the generous donations from local organisations, Alexander raises the funds he needs by recycling cans and bottles. He has a village of supporters behind him, including family and friends, and several local businesses. So far, he has raised over $5000 from recycling. That’s 50,000 voices of kids and teens. “Every bottle and can that I recycle represents one person I am going to prevent from being bullied,” he said.

Alexander isn’t done yet, though. He’s looking to expand the Shoot for Kindness, Block Out Bullying program, and is currently working on new short films featuring professional basketballers from across the country.

“You can’t always stop a bully, but you can help people be aware of the importance of being an Upstander.”