A PIONEERING scheme using teenagers to help crack down on bullying in Bolton schools has been given a cash boost by the Government.

The 'Bullybusters' project, organised by Bolton Council together with voluntary and other organisations, aims to reduce bullying and the fear of bullying by training young people in 'behaviour management' and 'peer mediation'.

Last year a national survey revealed more than half of all schoolchildren were worried about bullying.

Being bullied or beaten up concerned children more than their parents arguing at home.

The Bullybusters scheme is the brain child of Bolton's Neighbour Dispute Service co-ordinator Sue Parry.

She believes bullying victims would be more likely to discuss problems with people their own age than parents or people in authority as it would not be regarded as "grassing up" the bully.

By the beginning of next year she hopes local students, aged 16 to 18, will start training to act as mediators between victims and bullies in every school in Bolton. Eventually they will teach their skills to children as young as 10.

The scheme will operate as a junior version of thesuccessful Neighbour Dispute Service with mediators sitting down with the bully and their victim to find solutions. Under the Government's "Make a Difference" scheme to encourage more voluntary workers, Bolton Bullybusters has been given a grant of £29,445 to employ a trained worker to teach the mediators.

"It is really exciting," said Sue Parry.

"There isn't anyone else doing this in the North of England."

The scheme will be run by Bolton Neighbour Dispute Service, together with Bahar Productions, Bolton Volunteer Bureau and Bolton Council's education and arts and housing departments.

Cllr Don Eastwood, chairman of Bolton's education and arts committee, commented: "Many young people are afraid or feel uncomfortable speaking to teachers or parents if they are being bullied, but will feel easier discussing their experiences with people their own age."

Schools, colleges, youth workers and anyone else who deals with young people are invited to discuss the scheme at the Bolton teachers centre on Rydley Street on Monday. Anyone else interested in attending can contact Sue Parry on Bolton 660141.

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