A WORCESTER Warriors star has visited ChildLine in Birmingham to help kick bullying into touch.

Sam Tuitupou visited the charity ahead of Anti Bullying Week which began yesterday and runs until Friday to hear how the service helps young bullying victims who phone for advice.

Mr Tuitupou also learnt about the ChildLine in Partnerships (CHIPS) initiatives which includes work to prevent bullying by setting up peer support networks in schools and other organisations.

The visit to the base, which takes calls from Worcestershire, came as Mr Tuitupou and other Guinness Premiership players launched the second year of the Kicking Bullying Into Touch programme which was devised in conjunction with ChildLine and involves Premiership coaches going into schools to help tackle bullying.

During the visit ex-All Black Mr Tuitupou heard about how CHIPS tackles bullying, as well as meeting volunteer counsellors from ChildLine who take calls from children and young people.

The base takes calls from across the West Midlands and beyond and received 5,571 calls about bullying last year.

He said: “ChildLine is such an invaluable service for young people who need help and advice, including if they are being bullied.

“Rugby is a game that is built on the values of trust and respect so it fits well with teaching children about bullying. Through the Kicking Bullying Into Touch sessions in schools children learn what to do if they or a friend is being bullied and understand it is wrong to bully others.”

Last year the programme helped 17,256 six to eleven-year-olds in 360 schools, including 2,259 Worcestershire children in 30 schools.

Of 126 children surveyed following the sessions, 97 per cent said they had a better understanding of different forms of bullying and 72 per cent said they felt more able to talk to someone if they were being bullied or knew someone that was. Nearly 70 per cent said there was less bullying within their class.

This year, coaches and players will be reaching even more children by visiting 420 schools and Kicking Bullying Into Touch taster sessions will be held for the first time at 13 junior clubs, including one in Worcester.

Young people can continue to call ChildLine on 0800 1111, but they can now also receive information and support via the website – childline.org.uk – and talk to counsellors through e-mail, online message boards or one-to-one chats.