Penny Lancaster reveals the vicious bullying she received at school

As children head back to school across the UK, Penny Lancaster and a host of famous faces are backing The Diana Award's Back To School anti-bullying campaign which aims to help the millions of young people affected.

Penny was bullied on and off by her peers until she was 16. In one of the nastiest attacks Penny faced, she was followed home from school by two girls and a boy who rammed his bike into the back of her legs, causing them to bleed.

Find help and support for bullying by accessing our helplines below.

Gov UK – Bullying at Schoolhttps://www.gov.uk/bullying-at-school/the-lawIf you think that bullying is just a part of everyday school life, you're wrong. No-one deserves to be bullied and you shouldn't ignore the problem. Government website offering advice and information for young people and parent on how to combat bullying.

KidscapeParent’s Helpline: 020 7823 5430 (Mon-Tues 10-5pm)www.kidscape.org.ukWhatever your problem or concern we are here to support you. All problems, whether big or small, will be answered with the same level of care and concern. Your call will be treated as confidential and you can remain anonymous.

Bullying UK (Part of Family Lives)Helpline: 0808 800 2222Bullying at schoolWorkplace BullyingCyberbullyingBullyingUK part of Family Lives have launched a new LiveOnline Support service for every member of the family to get advice direct from our Expert team, our advisors are standing by to support you with a wide range of bullying problems

Childline Helpline: 0800 1111BullyingCyber BullyingMobile Phone SafetyChildLine is a counselling service for children and young people. You can contact ChildLine in these ways: You can phone on 0800 1111, send us an email, have a 1-2-1 chat with us, send a message to Ask Sam and you can post messages to the ChildLine message boards. You can contact ChildLine about anything - no problem is too big or too small. If you are feeling scared or out of control or just want to talk to someone you can contact ChildLine.

Bully BustersHelpline: 0800 169 6928www.bullybusters.org.ukHelp & AdviceWe operate a full anti bullying initiative providing training and awareness sessions for young people, children, professionals, Governors and parents or carers. The website contains information and practical advice on bullying, as well as contact details for the free helpline or you can email us via the contact us form. We also encourage feedback so we can develop our services accordingly. A team of specially trained staff operate the confidential telephone helpline and take calls from victims, parents or from people with information about the bullying of children. As well as acting as a listening ear service, the team provides practical advice and can act as a mediator between the organisation where the bullying is taking place and the parent/carer of the child involved.

The Diana Awardwww.diana-award.org.ukAnti-Bullying Support CentreThe Diana Award's Anti-Bullying Campaign involves a number of different projects aimed at reducing bullying in schools. One of our main projects is the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme which has trained over 22,000 young people across the UK to lead on anti-bullying campaigns in their schools.

ShoutText Shout to 85258www.giveusashout.orgPart of The Diana Award, Shout is the UK’s first free 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.

Childnet Internationalhttp://www.childnet.com/young-peopleThe internet is an amazing place and a wonderful resource and our aim is to help make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people. Find the latest information on the sites and services that you like to use, plus information about mobiles, gaming, downloading, social networking and much more.

The MixHelpline: 0808 808 4994www.themix.org.uk BullyingLife’s tough, we know that. It can throw a lot your way and make it hard to know what the hell to do with it all. So, welcome to The Mix. Whether you’re 13, 25, or any age in between, we’re here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts you have. We give you the information and support you need to deal with it all. Because you can. Because you’re awesome. We’ll connect you to experts and your peers who’ll give you the support and tools you need to take on any challenge you’re facing – for everything from homelessness to finding a job, from money to mental health, from break-ups to drugs. We’re a free and confidential multi-channel service. That means that you choose how you access our support, without the worry of anyone else finding out. Whether it be through our articles and video content online or our phone, email, peer to peer and counselling services – we put the control in your hands. You can even volunteer with us too.

ACASAcas Helpline: 0300 123 1100 (8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm Saturday).Customers with a hearing or speech impairment may prefer to contact us using the Text Relay service by dialling 18001 0300 123 1100.www.acas.org.ukBullying & HarassmentEquality & DiscriminationAcas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. We support good relationships between employers and employees which underpin business success. But when things go wrong we help by providing conciliation to resolve workplace problems.

Ditch the Labelwww.ditchthelabel.orgGet HelpWe are one of the UK’s largest, most ambitious and pioneering anti-bullying charities with innovation at our very core. Bullying is a learnt behaviour and we won’t stop until it’s over. Young people tell us every single year how much some anti-bullying provisions have alienated them and made them feel like “disempowered victims”. We are saying no to the fact that 2.5 million teens are still experiencing bullying every single year. We are saying no to defective anti-bullying policies that aren’t worth the paper they are written on. A no to the villanisation and misunderstanding of those who bully others and a huge, big, fat no to young people being blamed for their own bullying and getting told to just ignore it.

PapyrusPapyrus HOPElineUK – 0800 068 41 41SMS: 07786 209697www.papyrus-uk.org Support for those dealing with suicidal feelings, depression or emotional distress – particularly teenagers and young adults.

Students Against Depressionwww.studentdepression.org Developed in consultation with students who have been affected by depression, low mood or suicidal thoughts. Many of their stories and suggestions are included on the site.

Campaign Against Living MiserablyHelpline: 0800 58 58 58www.thecalmzone.net Support for young men under 35 suffering from depression.

The Cybersmile Foundationwww.cybersmile.orgThe Cybersmile Foundation offers practical help, support and advice for anybody affected by cyberbullying, as well as hate campaigns including parents, children, teachers and carers. You will find important information regarding cyberbullying in the advice and guidance section of the website along with links to many other organisations that all offer different ways of helping with cyberbullying issues.

Thinkuknowwww.thinkuknow.co.ukFind the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what’s good, what’s not and what you can do about it. If you look after young people there’s an area for you too – with resources you can use in the classroom, at home or just to get with it. Most importantly, there’s also a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online.

CEOP (The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre)www.ceop.gov.ukThe Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children. That means we are part of UK policing and very much about tracking and bringing offenders to account either directly or in partnership with local and international forces.

Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)www.iwf.org.ukIWF is the UK Hotline for the public to report child sexual abuse content on the internet. It works with the internet industry and the police in the UK and abroad to get the content removed. You can report on their website, anonymously if you prefer.

Fixerswww.fixers.org.ukBullyingFixers is a movement of young people tackling issues they feel strongly about to make a difference to others and want to change things for the better. Many have been through difficult times, and have used that experience to campaign on issues that matter to them, like being homeless, domestic abuse, bullying or drink and drug misuse. Anyone can become a Fixer. You can fix anything you like – as long as you benefit at least one other person.