From Louise Raymond, Exeter 383578, November 21, 2007

A POIGNANT film which highlights the issues of bullying amongst children in care has been launched this week by Devon County Council, to mark anti-bullying week.

The film, which features interviews with foster carers and a young person formerly in care, is aimed at helping schools and foster families identify children in care who are victims or perpetrators of bullying and provide them with the necessary support.

One of the key interviewees in the film is Rob Long - a well know educational psychologist. Rob Long examines the factors that can often make a child in care more vulnerable to either bullying others or becoming a victim of bullying, and describes the best way of supporting the child through the metaphor used for the film's title, Fighting Fire With Water.

In the film, foster carers relate their personal involvement with bullying, and child care and educational professionals outline the strategies used to help the child.

Care leaver Lissy shares her personal experiences of being a victim, and how she overcame her problems with the help of her carers and emerge with a successful college career and the promise of a bright future.

Andrea Morris, Devon County Council's policy manager for children in care, said: "This film aims to help schools and foster carers identify children who are vulnerable to bullying, and help support them through their problems.

"Foster carers have an important role in this as the young person's voice and advocate. This film will provide foster families and schools with information and advice about what to do if they are concerned about bullying."

Councillor John Smith, Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, said: "Bullying is an issue we take extremely seriously at Devon County Council. Recent consultation with young people also shows us that it is a top priority for children themselves, and we need to ensure the issue is being raised at the highest level.

"We know that children who are bullied are far more likely to withdraw from school life, have higher absence rates and be at risk of committing crime.

"We want to help these young people by raising their level of attainment, increasing their self-esteem and helping them acquire the skills to take them forward into later life."

Copies of the film are being distributed to Devon's schools and foster carers.

For further information or to obtain a copy of the film please contact Tony Strivens on 01392 386045.

The film is sponsored by South West Water and produced by Wide Eye Productions.

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Councillor John Smith can be contacted on 01626 772223.