MP backs campaign to stamp out cyber bullying

MP Ann Coffey is supporting national Anti-Bullying Week (19 – 23 November) in her work both at Westminster and her Stockport constituency this week.

Ann Coffey has tabled a Parliamentary Question to Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, asking him to provide figures detailing the extent of bullying via the internet and mobile phone text messaging.

And Ann will visit St Paul’s CE Primary School in Brinnington tomorrow to meet the children who are “Playground Friends” – the name of their peer mentoring scheme to prevent bullying at the school. 

Peer mentoring schemes – which the government has announced it will invest

£3 million in developing – have already been shown to be successful during a partnership between schools and Childline in 2005. The schemes work by training pupils to be mentors, offering support and helping children to make friends. 

Ann Coffey said:
“More often than not, a child being bullied would rather confide in another pupil than go directly to a teacher.  That’s why peer mentoring schemes are already working so well – like the Playground Friends at St Paul’s Primary.”

Ann continued:
“Bullying is totally unacceptable – whether it’s bullying in the playground or on the way to school, or cyber-bullying using mobiles phones and the internet.  It’s something we must all stand up to.”