Bullying claims another life

The tragic suicide of 16 year old North Yorkshire school boy Michael Miller once again highlights the devastating effects that bullying can have on our children and young people. With so much heightened awareness and examples of good practice, it is depressing to read about these tragic and untimely deaths. It is clear that although excellent prevention programmes are in place, not enough is being done to support those who are targeted and victimised, as in Michael's case, for most of their lives.

The many thousands of children and young people who are bullied need a safe haven, they need to recover. The new school term starts with some 6000 children and young people fearing to attend school because they have been severely bullied. How much more can we expect them to take?

This summer MP David Howarth led a Parliamentary debate on bullying as fears were growing that increasing numbers of vulnerable young people could be "falling through the net". The debate also served to push the government to ensure adequate funds are available to educate children who stay away from school if they are the target of bullying behaviour or victims of child on child violence.

Red Balloon Learner Centre Group, the UK's only charity dedicated to the recovery of severely bullied young people, has been arguing for not just for greater awareness and recognition of its valued work, but also the need for adequate and appropriate educational provision from Local Authorities for young citizens are self-excluding in significant numbers.

On Radio 4's "Face the Facts" on 9th August, Children's Minister Dawn Primarola said that 'no bullied children should be in Pupil Referral Units.'. Why was Michael Miller placed in a Pupil Referral Unit?

The Government should be applauded for spending money on supporting anti-bullying workshops, schemes to build emotional resilience and literacy, friendship schemes and mentoring programmes to address peer-to-peer bullying.. While these are valued and worthwhile, self-excluders have no access to them as they are already at home 'under the duvet'.

Nationally it is estimated that about 1 in 1000 children drop out of school because of severe and systematic bullying. For some of these children the pain has been so unendurable they have killed themselves. Half of the students referred to Red Balloons have seriously considered or attempted suicide. With a recovery rate of 95%, Red Balloon Learner Centres are best placed to ensure that young people referred to them have the professional support they deserve to get back on track.

Red Balloon Chief Executive, Dr Carrie Herbert, says: "Now more than ever we need action. Government and Local Authorities must recognize what we know as fact: that there are significant numbers of young people who cannot go to school even though they want to learn, and who are not being educated or receiving appropriate support in order to recover from the effects of the bullying they have experienced. They face a bleak future or no future at all.

"We need to protect these young people. They are our future nurses, teachers, parents, economists, writers, actors, carers and bus drivers. With just a bit more thought and support we could help them take their rightful place in society and fulfill their potential. At a relatively low cost, this small but significant group of children could be recovered."

-- Posted by Red Balloon - on 9th September 2009 --