Meet the anti-bullying ambassador: The cousin of a boy who took his own life due to school taunts

Video: Tyreese Garrod is now a anti-bullying ambassador at his school in Newham

The name-calling and violence proved too much for Nathan Jones. He died in 2005 aged 12. He took his own life.

Nathan’s cousin, Tyreese Garrod, is using his traumatic family experience to help others.

He is an Anti-bullying Ambassador at his school in Newham and is encouraging others to speak up as part of National Anti-bullying week.

The 13-year-old says the campaign highlights the devastating consequences of bullying and reinforces the message that it should not be tolerated.

Tyreese recalls his cousin's difficult experience at school: "Everyone used to tease him. He used to come home with his clothes ripped and no pocket money left. He must have felt helpless. He didn't tell anyone."

"With bullying I try to tell people that they have a voice and they should use it and not be afraid."

His fight against bullying goes beyond the school gates. He received the Anti-bullying Ambassador award from the charity, The Diana Award, which recognises young people who have made a difference in their communities.

"Because I am an anti-bullying ambassador bullies think that they shouldn’t pick on me because they know that I will do something about it straight away.

"Seeing my family suffer made me feel terrible and made me feel like I had to do something and change how people think about bullying.

"We need to show people in all schools around the world that bullying is not OK and show them what can happen as a result."

This year's National Anti-bullying Week runs from 17 to 21 November 2014.