Schools to help crack down on bullying (From The Northern Echo)

Schools to help crack down on bullying

6:26pm Friday 11th November 2011 in Darlington

A CAMPAIGN against bullying launched by a school radio station is inviting pupils from all over Darlington to get involved.

National anti-bullying week activities in Darlington will be led by CorpoRadio at Corporation Road School with its Darlington Goes Live campaign.

The week, which starts on Monday, focuses on verbal bullying, including malicious phone calls and cyber-bullying, with the theme of Stop and Think - Words Can Hurt.

Children will be invited to broadcast anti-bullying songs, raps, poems and plays during the week with podcasts of all the broadcasts available on Darlington Council's website.

On Friday, Jenny Chapman MP will be interviewed by children and young people about bullying for the station, with pupils from all schools invited to send in their questions.

During the week of action, anti-bullying roadshows and workshopswill be taking place at seven primary schools.

Other events include an antibullying workshop for parents at Dodmire Children's Centre on Wednesday and Exposure, the young people's media team, based at The Box, will be producing anti-bullying and anti-homophobic bullying DVDs.

Other schools taking part include The Education Village, which will run a series of assemblies and activities, and St Aidan's Academywhichwill be organising training for peer mentors and launching an anti-bullying blog andwebsite.

Cyndi Hughes, the council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Bullying comes inmany forms and it is often verbal, rather than physical attacks, which can do the most harm.

"The array of events taking place in Darlington during anti-bullying week shows that most young people want to tackle this issue."