BULLYING in schools and child prostitution are some of the problems Medway Council is trying to deal with through Government funding. Last night the council's cabinet approved proposals for £1.6 million of funding over the next two years from the Government's Children's Fund.

Nearly £850,000 has been earmarked for the coming year, including £15,000 for combating bullying and £20,000 for preventing child prostitution. Councillors have also proposed £120,000 for getting a family liaison officer in every school in Medway as part of the scheme to protect vulnerable children between the ages of five and 13.

Cllr Howard Doe, council portfolio holder for health and community, said: "We are hoping for £848,000 of funding this year to make sure that young people are supported.

ÒWe do have a problem with child prostitution in the Medway area, where girls below the age of 16 are being pushed into the profession to pay for drugs."

Cllr Pat Wozencroft, portfolio holder for education said: "Combating bullying in schools is vital. Every school should have a bullying policy but most parents and teachers are not aware of this. Bullying is definitely a big problem in our schools and it is getting worse all the time."

Cllr Jane Chitty said: "Bullying is one thing that can force pupils out of the education system. They will do anything to avoid going to school and facing the bullies. The whole problem needs to be looked at in a new way."

Cllr Wozencroft also called for every school in the area to have a family liaison officer to take the pressure of teachers. The sum of £120,000 has been proposed for that purpose as part of £1.6 million of funding the council hopes to secure over the next two years from the Government's Children's Fund.

She said: "Family Liaison officers should be in every school. We expect our teachers to be social workers but they are not trained for that. They are trained to teach."

Other funds earmarked for the coming year include £50,000 for after schools clubs, £10,000 for training in parenting and £28,000 for youth crime reduction.