Beatbullying invites locals to become CyberMentors
19 August 2010
A group of 20 to 25 year olds will work together to tackle bullying and offer support to younger kids in the unique online program developed by leading bullying prevention charity Beatbullying.
Award-Winning CyberMentors (www.cybermentors.org.uk) is the first nationwide, online peer-mentoring social networking site run by young people for the benefit of young people. Since its launch in March 2009, hundreds of thousands of young people have accessed the CyberMentors website. There are now thousand fully trained CyberMentors across the UK, making crucial differences to young people who are bullied.
Participants will receive specialist training from accredited Beatbullying staff, designed to enable young people to help and support other young people with any bullying issue, whether on or off-line, within the safe environment of the CyberMentors website.
Emma Jane Cross, Chief Executive, Beatbullying says:
“In the past we have worked closely with school pupils but it is fantastic that older students are now volunteering to provide support and guidance to other young people, both locally and across the country, in a bid to beat bullying.
“Cyber bullying is a worrying and fast growing trend which can be more harmful than typical schoolyard bullying. As many as one in three young people are subject to persistent bullying via digital technologies. Beatbullying works with many hundreds of children who are being cyber bullied so badly they even contemplate suicide or try to take their own lives.”
CyberMentors offer advice and support, but in severe cases where someone could be in immediate danger, refer problems to a Beatbullying cyber counsellor who will take appropriate action.
For more information, or to book a place on the training please contact stephen.hill@beatbullying.org
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NOTES TO EDITORS
To participate, students must be between 20 -25 years old; have access to a laptop with internet connectivity and be willing to undergo a CRB check. Training will take place on 19th August 2010 between 11am and 5pm at Leeds Met City Centre Campus.
About Beatbullying
Beatbullying is the UK’s leading bullying prevention charity. Founded in 1999, Beatbullying empowers young people to lead anti-bullying campaigns in their schools and local communities, and builds the capacity of local communities to sustain the work. Beatbullying has directly and indirectly worked with 700,000+ young people over the last seven years, assisting and supporting young people that are being bullied, re-educating and changing the behaviour of young people that bully and preventing bullying in schools and communities across the UK.
About CyberMentors
Cybermentors.org.uk is a safe, social networking site providing information and support for young people being bullied or cyber bullied. Young people, aged 11-25, are trained as CyberMentors, in schools and online, so that they can offer support to their peers. Encapsulated by cutting edge technology, it is a safe website where young people can turn to other young people for help and advice. CyberMentors are also supported by trained counsellors, available online if needed. CyberMentors is a Beatbullying project.
For more information, visit:
www.cybermentors.org.uk or www.beatbullying.org
Or contact Beatbullying’s Press Office: 0845 338 5073
Frank PR – Mira Ryness & Julie-Anne Power | miraryness@frankpr.it | julieannepower@frankpr.it | |0207 693 6999
Beatbullying - Sherry Adhami | sherry.adhami@beatbullying.org | 0781 400 4963