Experts in the field of combating cyberbullying will be speaking at a special conference for Cumbria's schools this Friday (6 June).
Called 'Cyberbullying - what can you do?', the conference, at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, has been organised by Cumbria County Council and will look at ways to tackle the growing threat to children, young people and teaching staff of this kind of bullying.
Cyberbullying is a term given to bullying behaviour carried out through electronic means such as as mobile phone texts, social networking sites, email, and chatrooms. Where it differs from the more traditional form of bullying is that for the person on the receiving end there is no escape. Often the perpetrators are anonymous and occasionally comments are posted from people that those being bullied don't even know.
A recent UK study found that 25 per cent of children and young people have been 'cyberbullied'; feeling that there is no way out and nobody to help, some even contemplate suicide as the only way to escape.
Teachers can suffers as well, with studies also showing that up to 8 per cent of teachers have been the target of online harassment.
The cyberbullying experts speaking at the conference include:
Josie Fraser
Josie is an educational technologist who has worked with a range national and international agencies developing ICT and learning initiatives, including e-safety issues. Josie is a member of the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) Cyberbullying Steering Group and has recently worked on their guidelines for schools on preventing and responding to cyberbullying.
Karl Hopwood
Karl was the head of a primary school in Cumbria for many years before moving to Wiltshire. Having recently left teaching, Karl now uses his extensive knowledge of Internet safety to deliver training and awareness courses to a cross section of audiences in the South West. Karl also works part time for CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre) and BECTA, the lead agency advising the DCSF.
Ruth Hammond
Ruth is the manager of BECTA's Safeguarding Programme and is a member of several; safeguarding committees which work closely with the DCSF and CEOP. Her work in safeguarding has produced some highly regarded BECTA documents relating to child safety in the digital world.
Schools and school governors from across Cumbria have been invited to the conference, which has been organised by the county council's Children's's Services.
Moira Swann, the Director of Children's Services, said:
"Cyberbullying can have a devastating effect on a young person or teacher.
"I hope every school will send somebody to this conference so that, here in Cumbria, we can help young people to understand that what might seem like harmless fun can, and does, put people at risk of taking their own lives."
Mark Toomey is the council's Principal Educational Psychologist and chair of Cumbria's anti-bullying group and Jeff Haslam is the council's e-safety officer.
Mark Toomey said:
"Cyberbullying is one form of bullying that is on the increase, and it doesn't end at the school gate or at hometime.
"It can go on 24 hours a day, every day, until it stops - if it stops.
"We have organised this conference, aimed primarily at schools, to raise awareness, as teachers are often the only people a bullied child can turn to.
"I am delighted that we have been able to attract key speakers from leading children's agencies such as Childnet International, Childline, and CEOP."
Jeff Haslam said:
"This is a great opportunity for the county's schools to gain really useful information about the issues surrounding cyberbullying.
"By the end of this conference, they will be better equipped with the knowledge and resources to help fight what is an alarming rise in bullying via the digital world."
End
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Alison Lister, Media Officer on 01228 226335
Notes
The schedule for the Cyberbullying conference is as follows:
09.45 - 10.15 "Who does it affect?" Children, teachers & parents
10.15 - 11.15 "Let’s Fight it Together" Josie Fraser –Childnet International
11.35 –12.10 "Using available resources" Karl Hopwood –CEOP
12.10 –12.30 A school policy Tom Ryan –Headteacher St
Josephs RC School
12.30 –13.30 Lunch
13.30 –14.15 Cyberbullying and E-safety Ruth Hammond –BECTA
14.15 –14.45 Round table discussion All
14.45 –15.15 Plenary All
15.15 Close