'Overwhelming' response to anti-bullying classes
SubmittedA gym owner has set up anti-bullying classes after becoming concerned by social media videos of children being bullied.
Troy Baker, from Sunderland, organised the free sessions for nine to 14-year-olds and said he had been "overwhelmed" by the response.
About 30 young people are expected to attend the first session on 3 April.
Mr Baker said he hoped the classes would help youngsters "make new friends" and improve their confidence through exercise.
"If we can get the kids feeling a little bit better, they spread that to the next kid in school and before you know it everybody is encouraging and helping each other," he said.
"That's the goal really - it's not about being able to defend yourself so you can have a fight in the park and not get jumped, it's to stop that whole thing happening before it gets to that stage."
'Bullying themselves'
Father-of-two Mr Baker, who runs The Box gym in Grindon, said he was encouraged by how many people wanted to get involved.
He said while it was "terrifying from a parent's perspective" he was also "motivated" to try and help.
"We are not just targeting kids who are being affected by bullying, but possibly people who are maybe bullying themselves," Mr Baker said.
"We're hoping the discipline side of it, the self-respect and the routine will help the kids who potentially might be bullies, stop being bullies."
Mr Baker has also been working with Northumbria Police to encourage young people to hand in illegal knives at his gym and so far three knives and an axe have been surrendered in less than a month.
Submitted