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Members of the Fermoy Family Coordinating group, an alliance of representatives from groups and agencies involved in community development and family support. The group is now tackling the issue of bullying, beginning with a ‘Fermoy against Bullying Week’ which will run from March 17th to 22nd. Pictured, from left to right are: Aine Moher Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, Brendan Scahill HSE, Alan Buckley Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, Jacinta Davis, Michael Dunne, Accord, Paul Philpott Fermoy Men’s Shed, Geraldine Buckley, Blackwater Day Centre, Dermot Coakley, Principal, St. Colemans, Aine O’ Grady Home School Liason Officer, Imelda O’ Donovan Youthreach, Fr. PJ O’ Driscoll.
Little girl in front is Paul Philpott’s daughter Ruby. Photo: Ellen Lynch

A major anti-bullying initiative is being launched in Fermoy. It's in response to concerns raised with the Fermoy Family Co-ordinating Group about bullying and is the culmination of discussions and work done by them since last September.

The group meet monthly to discuss issues relevant to supporting families and community development in the Fermoy area and to exchange information and work on identifying needs and responses. Each representative in the group has links with community and organisations to ensure the views are informed and relevant to the area. The group is supported by Avondhu Blackwater Development and by the HSE.

They've a long track record of influencing service provision in the area by identifying need in the community and have hosted seminars, guest speakers and training programmes in the Fermoy area.

Work on the anti-bullying initiative is already under way, with talks given to parents of primary schoolchildren in the area by the internet security company, McAfee.

A 'Fermoy against Bullying Week' is being held from March 17th to 22nd. The group will have a presence in the St Patrick's Day Parade to raise awareness of the initiative and during the week will hold a number of events, including an open night with two speakers on the subject, Fergus Heffernan, renowned Clinical Psychologist and Val Mullaley a trainer in the coaching approach to parenting called Koemba. Local gardai will give a talk on cyber bullying and the legal implications of it and McAfee personnel will be back to give a talk on the Wednesday night.

Talks are also organised for all secondary schools and Youthreach during that week. On the Thursday afternoon of awareness week the subject of elder bullying will be discussed by Ted Myers of the HSE's provision of services for older people. It'll take place in the Youth Centre on Ashe Quay. The awareness week is designed to kick-start a larger project to address the serious issue of bullying.

"The issue of bullying is much bigger than any school and so it requires a common approach and a common language across a range of policies," a spokesperson for the group said. All area primary and secondary schools are on board with the group which is comprised of representatives from the Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, Community Work Department of the HSE, Adult Education Services, FREE Community Drugs Project, Cloyne Diocesan Youth Service, Youthreach Community Youth Centre, Cork Mental Health Foundation, Accord, Family Support Services, Home School Liaison Services, Social Work Department, Mental Health Services, Disability Services, Cork Social and Health Project, local clergy, the Active Retirement Group, Fermoy Travellers Group, Fermoy Men's Shed, the Social and Health Education Project and Fermoy Mens' Club. The group has also written to and invited local sports club to become involved.

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