CHILDLINE is encouraging young people in Surrey to speak out against discrimination after figures obtained by the NSPCC showed a number of recorded hate crimes against young people across the county.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed 220 hate crimes committed against children in 2015/16 and 2016/17 in Surrey had a racial, religious or faith-based element.

It comes as Childline launches its new Understand Me campaign amid fears children are suffering in silence from physical bullying, verbal abuse, cyberbullying and racist name calling because of the colour of their skin, religious beliefs or their accent.

In the last three years the 24/7 service delivered almost 2,700 counselling sessions about race and faith based bullying.

The campaign, which includes a film ’Think You Understand Me?’, challenges xenophobia and prejudice, empowering young people to speak out about racial bullying and discrimination and seek help should they need it.

Spikes in Childline counselling sessions about racial and faith-based bullying have sometimes followed terror attacks, with the number rising by over a third following the Westminster attack in March 2017, compared to the previous month.

Some young people contacting Childline said the abuse and negative stereotyping was so cruel they had self-harmed or the bullying inside and out of school made them feel isolated and withdrawn from society. Others said they no longer wanted to go to school because they were worried about the abuse they would face.

An 11-year-old girl said: "Everyone at school hates me; they call me names like ’paki’ and say that I’m a terrorist. They bully me because of the way that I dress, I don’t want to wear my headscarf to school anymore because it makes me stand out, but I could never tell my parents that. I just want to make friends at school and for people to like me, but it’s really hard when I feel like an outsider."

NSPCC CEO Peter Wanless said: "It’s heartbreaking to think that some children are targeted by bullies because of their race, culture or nationality. Racist jokes and negative stereotyping can be hurtful and leave young people feeling isolated and ashamed of who they are or where they are from.

"Our Understand Me campaign aims to reach out to all children who are experiencing racial or faith based bullying and make sure they know that they are not alone. No child should suffer in silence and anyone being targeted must be supported to tell someone and ask for help."

Any child worried about bullying can call Childline on 0800 11 11. Any adult who is concerned about a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0800 800 5000.