'Growing Up Safely in Camden' was drawn up by Camden's Children Fund after research commissioned in 2002 showed that 44 per cent of children aged five to 13 had been bullied in open spaces such as estates, parks or on routes to school in the previous six months.
Olivia Vincenti, Camden Council's Children's Fund programme manager, said that the research shows that children are vulnerable when they are out of school. 'There's lots going on in schools to tackle bullying but there seems to be a gap in provision. Children want to be protected but they also want to know what they can do to protect themselves.
'The work we are doing is really innovative. Crucially, we have asked children what they want us to do in order to make this as effective as possible.'
Part of the campaign involved research into children and young people's views on bullying, and how they thought it could be prevented.
The research, carried out by 4Children (formerly Kids' Clubs Network) and Young Voice, a charity that undertakes research with children and young people, involved music, art and drama workshops at schools and youth centres across the borough. More than 200 children aged between five and 13 years took part in the workshops during the February half term.
The views expressed in the workshops have been put into a research report entitled Working towards a Bully Free Zone. Young people revealed that bullying was mostly perpetrated by older children on younger children on the journey to and from school. When asked how they wanted to be treated, the majority of children answered, 'With respect, fairly and equally'. They offered practical suggestions on what they and their peers could do to prevent bullying. These ranged from travelling to school with parents or friends to placing cameras in the alleyways and having more police near secluded areas.
The activities that took place in the workshops formed the basis of the consultation process, and the works of art designed or composed during the workshops have been used to raise the awareness of bullying in the area.
Brightly-coloured anti-bullying posters designed by the children have been displayed at 126 bus shelters across Camden for a month and a bullying awareness pack, including posters, postcards and a CD of six original rap songs composed by the children, has been distributed to primary schools and play centres in the area.
Children has also worked with Camden Council's Play Service to devise a training programme for all workers who come into contact with young people in the borough. The aim of the programme is to help them to spot bullying and respond appropriately.
Copies of the report are available free from Olivia Vincenti on 020 7974 8041 or Olivia.Vincenti@ camden.gov.uk.
