BOLTON'S pioneering Bully Free Zone has won a national award for its work with young people and their families.

Representatives from the Palace Street charity, including two young people and their dads, collected the Community Care Award at ceremony in London.

Bully Free Zone was one of three finalists shortlisted for the Supporting Families category at the annual awards, organised by Community Care Magazine. The Bolton team won the award, scooping a £5,000 prize.

Bully Free Zone was set up nearly 10 years ago and supports young people aged up to 18 who are experiencing bullying.

Family support is the newest project and has been running since April. It aims to offer support directly to those experiencing bullying and to their families and has helped 52 young people, between the ages of 13-18, since it began.

Emma Elcoat is the family support co-ordinator, she said: "It is fantastic. We have been working hard on this project and it has been very successful.

"It's great seeing young people come through after we have helped build up their support systems and relationships.

"We are planning to speak to the young people before we decide what to spend the money on.

"The project is currently funded by Connexions, but is only funded until next March, so we are looking for sponsorship to help us continue the work we have started."

One of the judges commented that the project was recognised for its "creativity and innovativeness" and said: "This is a hugely overlooked group and a really important project."

Chenese Stirling, aged 13, and her dad Eddie, travelled down to London for the ceremony.

She said: "It was brilliant to be chosen to go to London. Bully Free Zone has helped me keep going to school and I now feel a lot more confident in myself."

Mr Stirling said: "They are absolutely brilliant, I couldn't fault them at all.

"They have helped my daughter cope with difficult times and given her a more positive outlook on life."