Your Stories

Listen: Bullying in the Black Community

It's claimed that more than 60 per cent of children say they are or have been bullied.

A group of teenagers from Leicester's African Caribbean community feel they suffer more discrimination and bullying than many other groups. 

Seventeen year old Eshe Mitchell from Highfields has been talking to some of her friends and has put together this insight for BBC Radio Leicester...

The group all felt that they had been subjected to bullying in one form or another, both from individuals and institutions:

"They shove you away and say, 'No, you're not wanted here'. Yeah, I think it's 'cos I'm black."

The teenagers believed that black people were often portrayed negatively and stereotypically in the media, and this affected society's perception of them as individuals.

Instead they felt positive elements of the African Caribbean should be highlighted. Tariq, Youth Leader at the Black Future's Academy said:

"Generally if we work together as one, and stop being so hostile towards each other then maybe we'll get somewhere, maybe.

"I think if you focus more on community cohesion and do more cultural exchanges, it will help mend some of the rifts we tend to have between ourselves as communities."

Listen: Anti-bullying Bus

If you live in a village in the Blaby district you may have spotted a special bus which is effectively acting as a mobile youth club.

The aim is to give youngsters something to do in areas where there are fewer facilities, and to help target bullying.

BBC Leicester jumped on board the Next Generation Bus at Halloween to ask the young 'passengers' to explain how it all works for them...

Youth workers provide a friendly ear

As well as planning lots of fun activities and trips the bus is serious about tackling bullying.

They hold workshops where young people are put in different scenarios, watch videos, and are given an open forum to ask questions that may arise.

The bus also provides the attendees with an independent adult ear for their concerns:

"The youth workers have a lot of information and they can tell you how to deal with [bullying] - they're someone to talk to.

"I haven't experienced bullying myself but I know people that have. They didn't know what to do, they didn't know where to go to. So when we're here, we've got someone to go to."

Listen: Sally's Story

Sally Briars is 14 years old, lives in Eyres Monsell and is a pupil at Sir Jonathan North Community College.

She was bullied at her primary school and has since fallen foul of the bullies are her secondary school.

Understandably, this has made her life very difficult and painful - but she is now taking positive steps to help others.

Listen to her story...

When Sally was first bullied at primary school she found it very difficult to cope with:

When a similar situation arouse at secondary school Sally sought help and was told about FAB (Friends Against Bullying) - a club that is run every Tuesday lunchtime at her college.

Sally is now a trained leader, which means she can run FAB sessions and get involved with anti-bullying schemes countywide.

"It's just really great because you know you're helping other students."

Listen: Jacob's Story

Jacob Wesley is 18 years-old. He says he got bullied every day at primary school.

"Then I went to secondary school and got bullied there... None of the teachers really gave two fig rolls for me personally."

Fifteen year-old Julian Morton from Bosworth College spoke to Jacob about his experiences.

Listen to his story...

His treatment made him feel that he was "worth nothing".

And to cope with being bullied he became a bully himself, taking his frustrations out on others.

Did he receive any help or support?

"My mum was good. She helped me. But when I was with my dad he used to bully me. That's when I got into drugs."

However, he found the will power and the support to to fight free of his problems. He was referred to a rehabilitation programme run by the organisation called Soft Touch.

Listen: Kane's Story

Soft Touch was also a great help to 17 year-old Kane who is now hoping to become a star rap performer.

Julian Morton from Bosworth College interviewed Kane about being bullied.

Listen to Kane's story...

He told Julian: "A few years back I was in all sorts of trouble. I was getting arrested for fighting, criminal damage, assault, and so on.

"I got in touch with Soft Touch through Youth Offending. It changed my life around.

"I got into music and I hope to see myself going big in my career over the next few years."

But why did he become a bully... and worse?

"Basically it was the people I hung around with. I used to think I had to prove myself. Now I have grown out of that...

"It was difficult to change. It's easier to be bad than good, but it's better to be good than bad."

Kane has also been bullied himself. "For the past few years there have been lots of people after me [because of what I did]. But I'm out of all that now."

Happily, he found support. "I got support from Youth Offending, Soft touch and my family.

"Now I've got different friends and they support me... It was easier because I had people there helping me."

Kane says that he is trying to set a positive example.

"There's more to life than bullying. There's more to life than prison."

Visit the Exhibition

As part of Anti-Bullying Week there is an exhibition in the BBC Leicester Open Centre at 9 St. Nicholas Place.

The event show-cases some of the schemes and campaigns being run across the country to to combat bullying including ones being run locally.