Bullybusters' Sherrell writes in the Echo for Anti-Bullying Week

Turn to Page 2 of today's Liverpool Echo and you will find a fantastic 'My City' editorial by Sherrell, one of the Bullybusters team.

This week is Anti-Bullying Week with the theme, 'All Different, All Equal.'  The Bullybusters team will be making the most of the  national focus on anti-bullying, visiting more schools than ever across Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley.

Bullybusters offers support to children, young people, parents and teachers through workshops, assemblies, peer-mentor training and through the Bullybusters Helpline.

Nationally, bullying continues to be a big issue for children and young people:

- 16,000 young people absent each year from school due to bullying (NSPCC)
- Over half of LGBT young people experienced homophobic bullying at school (NSPCC)
- Over 25% of adolescents report that they have been bullied repeatedly through their mobile phones or via the internet (iSAFE Foundation). 
- 24,000 children accessed Childline’s counselling services in 2016-17 (NSPCC)

The continual changes to technology, with new apps emerging all the time, mean our Bullybusters team are continually updating their sessions to ensure they are providing the most up to date advice to young people, parents and teachers.

"We provide support via our helpline for young people, teachers and parents and carers.  Queries can include how to deal with internet bullying, sexting, racist and homophobic bullying and 'mate crime.' 'Mate crime' is on the up and it is when people befriend a vulnerable person to exploit them.  Our motto at Bullybusters is 'Don't Suffer in Silence," no matter what type of bullying is going on."  Sherrell, writing in the Echo.

Why not follow the team on twitter this week @bbusters to see what they get up to, visit their website or call the helpline - 0800 1696928.