More than £ 102,00 has been raised for an 11-year-old boy who had to have a finger amputated after injuring it while trying to run away from bullies at a Welsh school. Raheem Bailey got his finger caught while climbing a fence during his attempt to flee from his tormenters.
His mother Shantal said the schoolboy had been facing “racial and physical abuse” since starting at Abertillery Learning Community. Gwent Police said on Tuesday (May 24) that the investigation into the incident was "ongoing".
The massive amount of money has been raised on GoFundMe in just four days to buy Raheem a prosthetic finger. He was allegedly attacked, beaten, kicked, and pushed to the ground during the incident. You can read more about that here. His mother said: "Raheem sat there in agony - and the whole time telling me 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry Mummy'."
He told her: "I just couldn't, I couldn't stay there, like why does no-one like me?" Shantal added: "These are the things that my child, while being in pain, is constantly having to ask me. I just felt like I went into the school and I spoke to them and I told them they failed him, they didn't safeguard him. They failed him in many different ways but they definitely did not safeguard my baby.
"He was running away because he was so tired of being picked on every day. I mean, some of the things he has said to me, it's just massively, massively disgusting. And I don't know how any teachers are meant to be protecting my child have not seen or heard anything at all."
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, his devastated mum said: "I have raised my child to be respectful and polite, why should I send my child into school to be a punchbag. Something needs to be done to make children feel safe for speaking out."
A statement from the Welsh Government's education minister Jeremy Miles has been released in which he says he was "shocked and saddened" to hear about the incident. Mr Miles said: "The incident is being investigated by the school and the local authority and Gwent Police are involved and carrying out an investigation. My officials have been in close contact with the local authority in Blaenau Gwent since last week and we will continue to engage with them while the investigation is ongoing. We also understand that the child and the child’s family are being supported by Gwent Police."
The Welsh Government has said that the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan is due to be released in the coming weeks. You can read the full statement here.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said on Tuesday that it was a "shocking case" and thoughts were with Raheem and his family. "No instances of bullying, whatever their motivation, are acceptable in schools in Wales and the incident itself is being investigated by Gwent Police with the assistance of the local authority and others.
"As well as thinking about that young person and their circumstances, it is right we think about the wider school community as well. There are young people sitting examinations at Abertillery Learning Community today and other young people wanting to return for their education. A learning community where SRTC has been very recently and very actively engaged to ensure the training, the awareness, resources and so on.
"Our anti-racist Wales action plan will be published next month and will include a significant section dealing with anti-racist action in the education context. I myself am more interested in making sure we can take those actions, actions we've agreed with so many voices with lived experiences who have helped us to create that plan than I am with yet another inquiry."
Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho are among those who have reached since the stories made headlines around the world. They sent messages of support to Raheem as have the likes of football manager Chris Hughton, former Wales captain Ashley Williams and Manchester United legend Gary Neville.
Basketball player Gerald Green, who reached the top of his sport despite having just nine fingers, has also been in touch and is expected to speak with Raheem over the phone in the coming days. Shantal says: "He loves football, and the messages of support have really put a smile on his face and really helped him pick his head up. They have told him how strong he is and this is not going to define him. Him having one finger removed from him does not define him. He will become successful.
"He can literally do anything, which is what I teach them. There is nothing stopping them what they want to become. It has been amazing because it has given him a boost. There are mean people, but it show there are a lot, a lot, of nice people."
