£500,000 grant to combat school bullying

The cash has been allocated by the European Social Fund to Durham County Council's Anti-Bullying Service.

It will pay for 11 extra staff, who will start working with youngsters aged 13 to 16 at schools in the county from Monday. Primary school children already have access to anti-bullying project workers for one day a week.

The extra money means the same service can be offered to secondary and special school pupils.

Val McFarlane, the county council's project co-ordinator, said the new staff would work with both victims and perpetrators of bullying.

"This is really fantastic news for pupils in County Durham," she said.

"The extra funding means we can do even more work in schools, and pupils will have access to an anti-bullying project worker each week.

"The schools have been very positive about this new initiative, and we hope to continue to work together to make school a happier place, where children can realise their full potential in a safe environment."

News of the scheme's extension has been welcomed by secondary and special schools, which have each appointed a link teacher to liaise with the new staff.

Funding for the posts will initially run until December 2003. Lynne Ackland, head teacher at Sedgefield Community College, said: "As a head, I am delighted that County Durham takes the issue of bullying so seriously.

"The new project will allow schools not just to respond to incidents, but to work pro-actively to reduce bullying."

The grant comes as plans are under way for the third Happier in School week, taking place at County Hall, Durham, from July 15 to 19.

The initiative, which was launched by agony aunt Denise Robertson in 2000, brings children, teachers, parents and professional agencies together to raise awareness of bullying and involve them in activities.

In previous years, it has involved the setting up of a phone line for victims of bullying and buddy schemes with pupils acting as counsellors