Ms Ruane was expected to officially announce that over 300 primary, secondary, special and Irish medium schools will now receive a copy of the Beat the Bully board game at the launch of the resource this afternoon.

The four teenagers, Gavin McDaid, Gavin and Derryn Melly and Mark Sewell, developed the game in 2005 and have also put together a training pack for local schoolchildren.

The project comes as part of a programme of events in Derry to mark Anti-Bullying Week.

Youthfirst and the Derry Children's Commission are currently hosting a series of workshops with 600 local students.

A new mural highlighting the impact of bullying was also unveiled at Free Derry Corner yesterday.

Pupils from St Joseph's Secondary School and Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir have helped design the mural.

A spokesman for Youthfirst said: "The Beat the Bully board game encourages children and young people aged eight to 15 to develop strategies which ultimately enable them to beat bullies in their everyday lives.

"In addition to this, the games begin the process of helping children and young people to seek support and guidance if they find themselves in situations where bullying is present.

"The four young people involved in the innovative design of the board games received recognition of their innovation and dedication by receiving the children and young people's National Services Award 2006, presented by Paul Ross.

"This recognition is an accolade which continues to motivate and inspire these young people to promote initiatives such as anti-bullying camps, peer mentoring programmes as well as advocating on behalf of those individuals impacted by bullying."

He added: "Throughout the last two years these young people have worked tirelessly in marketing the board game and ensuring that it reached audiences regionally, nationally and internationally. This, however, is made more possible today with its launch into 300 schools across the north."

Funding for the project was secured from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland.