Halton Borough Council launches anti-bullying campaign

Halton Borough Council launches anti-bullying campaign

Sep 2 2010 by Daniel Mckenzie, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

A HARD-HITTING campaign to reduce bullying in Halton has been launched this week.

Halton Borough Council and Halton Young Anti Bullying Alliance have joined forces to develop the three month campaign of bus advertising, posters and workshops.

The campaign particularly focuses on the issue of cyber bullying, which has become an increasing problem nationwide.

The project is the result of the Halton Young Anti Bullying Alliance receiving £10,000 funding from Halton Youth Bank.

The campaign, which runs until November, includes 30 Halton buses displaying anti-bullying artwork produced by young people.

The campaign includes the distribution of poster and leaflets highlighting cyber bullying and how to find help and support and will culminate with a conference in November for anti bullying week.

Halton Borough Council’s executive board member for children and young people, Cllr John Swain, said: “With new technology there are ever more ways for young people to bully each other, but the sentiment is the same.

“These people are cowards who use bullying to hide their own inadequacies. This campaign encourages young people being bullied to tell someone and make sure bullying is stopped.”

A recent national four-year study on bullying found 15% of the 11,227 children surveyed had received nasty or aggressive texts and emails, and demonstrated a year-on-year increase in children who are being bullied using new technology.

Research conducted as part of the Government cyber bullying campaign found that 34% of 12-15-year-olds reported having been ‘cyber bullied’.

http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/runcorn-widnes-news/runcorn-widnes-local-news/2010/09/02/halton-borough-council-launches-anti-bullying-campaign-55368-27180636/

-- Posted by Red Balloon - Merseyside on 2nd September 2010 --