Any preconceived notions of what a victim of bullying should be like are blown away within seconds of meeting 15 year old Tiah Powell.

Five years ago Tiah's life was so miserable and she was so distressed by bullies that her mother made the life changing decision to take her out of school and home educate her. Now Tiah is a happy, pretty teenager looking forward to the future, perhaps going to college and hoping to work with animals. She is also the founder, along with her mum, Bev, of a website, which children and parents can use, http://www.cruelatschool.co.uk">www.cruelatschool.co.uk. Tiah calls on her own experiences to help others deal with what can be extremely traumatic.

Within a few months of Tiah leaving her school, the bullies turned their attention to other children. The parents of these girls came to Bev for help and said: "Now we understand what you were going through."

This led Bev to set up the website which was designed by her oldest daughter, Tania. Bev, who works at the Royal Gloucester Hospital, said she has been amazed at how many people contact her, usually they are at the end of their tether and don't know who to turn to.

She said they need to talk and they need advice on what actions they can take. Many are worried that they will be in trouble if they do not send their children to school but she said: "I reassure them that they can keep their child at home while the situation is being resolved."

For Tiah the answer was to leave school and join an online classroom but Bev said that is not the answer for everyone. At first she advises parents to talk things through with the head, then the governors even the police.