Some of you may have seen the centre page spread in yesterday's Cambridge News about Red Balloon Learner Centres, a small number of schools for children who have been so badly bullied that they can't cope with mainstream school.
Red Balloon is a charity and one very, very close to my heart as it's been a lifesaver for one of my own children... pretty much literally.
The Cambridge Red Balloon Learner Centre is setting up a stall in the Grafton Centre on this Saturday, 2nd April, manned by staff, pupils and parents, where they're going to be selling recipe books and fundraising as well as answering questions about the centres and their work. This work is absolutely vital to the wellbeing of so many children and there simply aren't enough schools like the Red Balloon for the number of abused, bullied children. Without Red Balloon, quite simply, some of the children just wouldn't be alive any more.
Every child has a dreadful story to tell. More than half of those who attend the Red Balloon have attempted or contemplated suicide. Aside from my own child's, the example which really hurt me and brings me to tears still was a simple one - that of the girl who was so frightened of the bullies that she took to eating her lunch in the school toilets just to get away from them. There are far worse stories than that of course, which is why I'm asking you to come over to the Grafton Centre this Saturday, say hello and learn more about the Learner Centres, the charity and it's aims and successes.