* Bullying was the largest single reason children contacted the telephone helpline ChildLine for the fourth year running, the charity has revealed. In its annual review for 1999 to 2000 published last week, ChildLine said that more than 22,000 children in the UK spoke to its counsellors about bullying. This compared to more than 14,000 calls by children on physical abuse and 10,000 on sexual abuse, representing 11 per cent and eight per cent of the total number of children counselled respectively. In total, ChildLine took 1,362,000 calls from across the UK - a 3.4 per cent rise over the previous year.
* Bullying was the largest single reason children contacted the telephone helpline ChildLine for the fourth year running, the charity has revealed.
In its annual review for 1999 to 2000 published last week, ChildLine said that more than 22,000 children in the UK spoke to its counsellors about bullying. This compared to more than 14,000 calls by children on physical abuse and 10,000 on sexual abuse, representing 11 per cent and eight per cent of the total number of children counselled respectively. In total, ChildLine took 1,362,000 calls from across the UK - a 3.4 per cent rise over the previous year.
ChildLine chief executive Valerie Howarth said, 'The sad fact remains that many children's lives are blighted by bullying.' She called on parents, carers and children not to become complacent about bullying, even though it had long been a high-profile issue.
