This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for bullying helpline
21/10/2003
Extra funding will enable ChildLine Scotland's Bullying
Line to open seven days a week, it was announced today.
Speaking at the relaunch of the Bullying Line, Deputy
Education Minister Euan Robson said the £66,000 funding
would allow the charity to support more young people who
are being bullied or who are bullying others.
Mr Robson said:
"Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and must be
addressed quickly whenever it arises. We are committed to
helping schools and education authorities develop effective
approaches to tackle bullying, including an anti-bullying
policy.
"But when a child is being bullied it's vital that they
don't suffer in silence - by speaking out they can
drastically reduce the bully's power. When a child does not
feel able to talk to a parent or teacher, then helpline can
prove invaluable - talking to someone at ChildLine can be
the first step to addressing the problem.
"That's why we have increased our support for this
valuable service which will enable the helpline to operate
at weekends and provide counselling to youngsters who are
being bullied."
ChildLine Scotland's Counselling Manager Alison Todd
said:
"One in four children spoken to by ChildLine Scotland
counsellors talk about bullying. The Bullying Line is
extremely busy so we are delighted that the Scottish
Executive is helping us extend this vital service.
"Callers will often phone at weekends to express concern
at having to go back to school - and back to being bullied
- on the Monday morning. Sometimes they have experienced a
hard week and want to talk about it too. The expansion of
the dedicated Bullying Line will mean they get through to a
counsellor much quicker and will take us closer to our
target of answering every call from every child.
"While some schools deal very well with bullying we have
found that many children and young people feel their
schools are not doing enough to tackle the issue. Around 50
per cent of children who mention their school during a call
feel more could be done. Bullying is an issue in all
schools and it's vital that the whole school - including
the pupils - are actively involved in tackling it."
The Scottish Executive is providing up to £66,363 to
fund the Bullying Line in 2003-04 and up to £65,044 in
2004-05. The Executive contribution for 2002-03 was
£39,000.
The Bullying Line (0800 44 1111) is open Monday to
Friday from 3.30-10pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from
2-8pm. At all other times children should phone ChildLine's
24 hour UK-wide service, free on 0800 1111.
ChildLine Scotland receives around 6000 calls a year
about bullying. Cards and posters informing children and
young people about the Bullying Line will be sent to every
Scottish school. All P7 and S1 pupils will receive a card
with details of the helpline numbers as ChildLine
Scotland's research shows the transition from primary to
secondary is the time when children are most vulnerable to
bullying.
The Bullying Line opened in January 1997, with private
funding, following a successful pilot scheme in Tayside.
The government provides top-up funding for the service and
the Bullying Line is now maintained with financial support
from local authorities, various trusts and corporate
sponsorship.
ChildLine Scotland's training and outreach workers visit
schools and run workshops to help children address the
problem. They also help schools set up mentoring and peer
support programmes which research shows can be effective in
reducing bullying.