Beating the bullies

Kevin Paterson set up a children's group in Rhyl to help young people after he was bullied while at school.

As a boy, Kevin started to run away from home in Saltney to avoid the bullies after giving up on hiding from them while waiting for the school bell to ring each morning.

Today, Kevin from Prestatyn runs a group in Rhyl to prevent children from suffering in the same way he did and he has been sharing his experiences on BBC Radio Wales as part of a special series of programmes about bullying.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Aled Haydn Jones hosts the programmes, The B Word drawing on his own experience as he was bullied while a schoolboy at Aberystwyth.

He joined Kevin at his children's club in Rhyl to see how Kevin now works to help children. The pair ventured to Kevin's old haunts and down memory lane, including visiting his old hiding place - Denbigh Castle - where Kevin felt safe having hitch hiked from home.

But even now, years later, walking the same route to his old school brought back awful memories and Aled says he noticed how Kevin began to look uneasy, looking over his shoulder as if expecting a bully to reappear.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Aled Haydn Jones hosts programmes about bullying

For other programmes, Aled visits his old school in Aberystwyth where he meets present pupils who explain procedures they now have in place should bullying occur.

A meeting with psychologist Dr Emily Lovegrove offers an insight into the psyche of bullying and bullies as Aled wonders if there was anything he could have done differently at the time.

In other programmes, Federico Podeschi talks about taunted for being gay in his native San Marino and these events have shaped the life of the campaigner in Swansea.

For further information and advice about bullying, visit BBC Switch

On Television:

Bullying: We're All Different, Tuesday October 13, BBC One Wales, 11.05pm

Bullying: Why Me?, Wednesday October 14, BBC Two Wales, 7.30pm

Bullying: It's Not a Game, Wednesday October 14, BBC One Wales, 10.45pm

Bullying: Talk to Someone, Thursday October 15, BBC One Wales, 6.55pm

On BBC Radio Wales:

The B Word: Kevin's Story, Sunday October 11, BBC Radio Wales, 5.30pm

The B Word: Federico's Story, Tuesday October 13, BBC Radio Wales, 6.30pm

The B Word: Laura's Story, Thursday October 15, BBC Radio Wales, 6.30pm