Anti-hate campaigner’s message for victims of bullying

YOUNGSTERS targeted by bullies were given support on tackling them by an anti-hate crime ambassador at Warrington.
The town centre drop-in advice session was the latest in a series by former wheelchair athlete and Great Britain gold medal winner Adrian Derbyshire.
Social media bullying and the long-terms effects of schoolyard taunts were among the problems shared with the former Olympic torch bearer, who visits schools with his message.
Adrian, who suffered abuse when using a wheelchair after a brain haemorrhage left him permanently disabled, said: “A lot of parents thanked me for having visited their children’s schools and many members of the public talked about their experience with bullying.
“One lady told me she’d been bullied 20 years ago and still suffers with a lack of confidence, social anxiety and failed relationships due to issues she suffered at the hands of bullies.
“I have just clocked up the 50,000th young person I’ve been able to speak to in a year and that is fantastic. The response of the public has been overwhelming.”
Also turning to Adrian for advice was a 15-year-old girl who is facing the double challenge of losing her mum to cancer and the onslaught of bullies.
Adrian said: “The teenager is being targeted due to her mother’s death  – her dad broke down in tears talking to me about losing his wife after battling cancer and how his daughter is being bullied by name calling, due to now not having a mother.
“It was an emotional chat but these are just a few of the hundreds of people telling me their stories of stigma, bullying and hate crime.”
Adrian, an official spokesperson for charity Stop Hate UK, added: “There are so many ways to bully people now – whether for disability, race, gender, mental health, age – but in the past attacks like that were often left at the school gate.
“Now there are even apps designed to allow the anonymous targeting of someone on social media, so it is 24/7. People are bullied at home, in bed, on the beach – they can’t get away from it.
“Luckily the response to this campaign of community outreach has been amazing.”