A PIONEERING project to tackle bullying in schools was launched at Linton Village College with the support of James Paice, MP for South East Cambridgeshire. The Cybermentors scheme, established by the charity Beatbullying and endorsed by celebrities inclu

A PIONEERING project to tackle bullying in schools was launched at Linton Village College with the support of James Paice, MP for South East Cambridgeshire.

The Cybermentors scheme, established by the charity Beatbullying and endorsed by celebrities including N-Dubz and Joe Calzaghe, trains young people to support their peers through a social networking website, www.cybermentors.org.uk

Around 70 per cent of young people have experienced bullying, more than a million children are bullied every week and up to 20 young people commit suicide each year as a result of bullying. The emergence of new technology has led to new forms of bullying by text, email and on internet chatrooms, making it easier for victims to be bullied at home as well as at school.

Young people often find it difficult to talk about bullying with their parents or teachers, which is where cybermentors come in. So far, 58 students at LVC have been trained as cybermentors and are available to talk to their peers either face to face or online.

A number of student cybermentors spoke at the launch, which was attended by LVC principal Caroline Derbyshire and staff from Beatbullying.

James Paice MP congratulated the cybermentors on their presentation and spoke of the emotional harm caused by bullying and the important work of the student mentors in helping to support their peers.

On the same day, students from Year Seven took part in a 'deep learning' day on the theme of cyberbullying.