INSPIRATION from the arts is being used to combat bullying behaviour.

As National Anti-Bullying Week started today, schools across the region were gearing up for a host of themed activities.

Some North Yorkshire youngsters have been making short films showing scenes of bullying.

They have then been given the opportunity to re-enact the same scenes with positive outcomes.

Tristan Bearman, co-ordinator at Studio 3 Community Arts, Scarborough, the company behind the scheme, said: "The films are being created by secondary schoolchildren to show to primary schoolchildren. We want the kids to reflect on what antisocial behaviour and bullying is."

Pupils in York will be given the chance to go into the studio and record an anti-bullying song with Paul Banks, former guitarist and songwriter with Shed Seven.

Shed Seven recorded their own experience of bullying in the chart hit Bully Boy.

City of York Council is providing a smart card to every pupil in the city. These feature contact details of organisations that can provide help, advice and support to victims of bullying.

Mark Ellis, City of York Council's principal education officer, said: "There is a great deal of work being done in York schools to ensure that would-be bullies are aware that this sort of behaviour won't be tolerated. We also want to offer victims of bullying access to the support they need."

Youngsters at St Lawrence's Primary School, in Heslington Road, York, will be writing poems and stories, and taking part in teambuilding activities. The events culminate in Blue Friday when children can leave their school uniforms at home - as long as they wear blue to school.

People in East Yorkshire are also being encouraged to wear blue on Friday, and local schools have received resources including Beat Bullying blue wristbands.

In Hambleton, community safety officers will be talking to hundreds of schoolchildren this week.

Youth action officer PC Greg Snowdon said: "Bullying can take many guises and often we find people who are being bullied are also bullies.

"Anyone can be a victim for a host of reasons. It may be the colour of their skin or their religion; it may take place at school or in the park; and it may be name calling, hitting or gossiping.

"Whatever it is, it can destroy children and young people's lives - and this is something we want to prevent happening. It is important to talk to the very people that are the subject of this abuse - the children - and that is what we will be doing. Hopefully, these talks will have a huge impact on the problem."

Anti-bullying week has been co-ordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), which aims to get young people involved in tackling the growing problem.

The ABA brings together voluntary, private and public sector organisations to work on reducing bullying and creating safer environments in which young people can live, grow, play and learn.

Updated: 10:33 Monday, November 21, 2005