unique bullying helpline

On September 1, 2004 a unique new bullying helpline was launched to give children across Merseyside a new service in the fight against bullying.

The Liverpool ECHO teamed up with all six local education authorities to launch Bully Busters - a confidential telephone helpline specifically targeting the scourge of bullying.

What is so special about this vital, local service is the joint commitment by the Liverpool ECHO and the region's six education authorities.

Between us we have delivered the £120,000 needed to run and market Bully Busters in its first pilot year. Bully Busters is unique because it is dedicated entirely to the Merseyside area and dedicated entirely to bullying.

In the first three months alone Bully Busters' specialist staff took more than 500 calls from children and worried parents. From those more than 40 became referrals which the LEAs went on to deal with.

It meant that a string of bullying cases which may otherwise have gone undetected were acted upon.

Our partnership was born out of a desire to achieve something positive in the fight against bullying. Politics and newspaper sales did not come into it.

Now we have a service which allows victims or their parents to make confidential calls to an independent organisation - Liverpool-based helpline specialists Local Solutions.

Every Merseyside LEA paid towards the service - as did the ECHO through its charitable trust, the Sunrise Fund. Soon it will be time for decision makers with shrinking budgets to re-commit to this project.

It will also be an opportunity for other organisations and businesses to consider joining us and helping continue the Bully Busters crusade.

Andrew Edwards, Assistant Editor, Liverpool ECHO.