Charity aims to reduce homophobic bullying in Cumbrian Schools

A Cumbrian charity has taken steps to reduce homophobic bullying in schools.

Outreach Cumbria has joined forces with Cockermouth School to roll out a training programme to every school in the county to help them deal with homophobic bullying.

The charity says this form of bullying happens in every school whether the teachers realise it or not. By getting every school trained on the national Stonewall programme they'll have a support network when bullying becomes a problem.

At Cockermouth School they have successfully run a campaign aimed at getting pupils to think about the phrases and words they use so they have a better understand of how they may cause offence.

The partnership says schools need to do something proactive, to stop burying their heads and realise how big a problem it is.

The Stonewall training programmes will be running in February and March next year. Schools wanting to take part can contact Outreach Cumbria directly but every school will receive an email asking them to take part.