An 11-year-old girl who has been called "fat, bisexual, and transgender" has spoken out about how she dealing with being bullied at school.

Shannon Thompson, from Harrow, has been tormented by classmates and repeatedly bullied.

Kids made jokes about her, they broke her glasses, she was called fat, and says she also experienced racist, homophobic and transphobic bullying.

In December, Shannon was referred to Harrow Horizons, a mental health service run by children's charity Barnardo's.

Through Harrow Horizons, Shannon started having regular one-to-one counselling sessions with Kat, a counsellor at the service. Each week after school, Shannon visited Harrow Horizons at its colourful and child-friendly building in Pinner Road where she would be able to talk about her feelings and receive support.

The pupil said: “Coming to Harrow Horizons helped me to have more of a voice so I could speak to someone and explain how I felt. Kat helped me to understand that it’s not true the nasty things people say.

“When people are unkind to me at school I try to move away from them and keep my distance. Right now I can cope better, but there are still bits and pieces which happen at school that sometimes can make me more upset than others.

"For other young people who are experiencing problems at school, I think it’s important for them to know that there is always someone out there that can help you. Don’t be embarrassed to speak to them because doing so can help you. Even if the bullying doesn’t stop straight away; it will in the end."

Shannon's mother Diane has praised Barnardo's for the work they have done to help her daughter.

She said: "Harrow Horizons is a brilliant service and I can’t thank them enough. Although Shannon still does experience bullying at school, she is a lot more different now and I’ve been given tips to help her. Now she is a changed person and gradually building up her confidence again."

In March 2019, Shannon was one of several young people who were treated to a special Barnardo’s screening of the film ‘Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle’ at the Everyman Cinema in Hampstead.

For more information please visit www.barnardos.org.uk/harrowhorizons