South Wales student set to shave off cherished dreadlocks in charity fundraiser for NSPCC Cymru
It’s great to hear about a student from South Wales who is bravely preparing to have her dreadlocks – which she has been growing since the age of 13 – shaved off to raise vital funds for one of our partner charities, NSPCC Cymru.
Emma Robinson from Barry has made the decision to part with her locks after recognising the impact the pandemic is having on the mental health of children and young people, and those who live in abusive homes.
“I want to raise as much money for the NSPCC as possible because the pandemic has been tough for everyone – even those among us that have a safe and comfortable home,” says Emma.
“I can’t imagine being a child living in an abusive household; feeling trapped not only by lockdown restrictions but by the family that should be supporting you through it.”
The shockwaves of the coronavirus pandemic are being felt in every community across Wales, but many children have been the hidden victims, suffering abuse and neglect at home, increased risk online, or further pressures on their mental health.
The 20-year-old university student says: “With suicide rates in young people rapidly rising, it is essential we help out these children in any way we can and sometimes a call to a helpline such as Childline can be all it takes to save a young life.
“After months of deliberating and annoying those close to me with my indecisiveness, I have finally decided to shave off my dreadlocks which I have had since I was 13.
“It’s hard to remember a life without them now, so it’s going to be an emotional day. It’s been a very big decision for me to make, but I’m doing it knowing that every pound raised could help save a child from an abusive household and set them up for a fulfilled future.”
The NSPCC is continuing to adapt the way it works in Wales so that it can support children at a time when children and young people are spending more time away from friends and relatives, and vulnerable children are at risk.
Children and young people have told Childline about new feelings of anxiety and depression, while others have shared how the pandemic is intensifying issues they were already having at home. The emotional burden spending more time inside is having on children and young people is very real and for those who live in households that are not safe, it’s a particularly stressful and uneasy time.
Childline has 12 bases across the UK, including in Cardiff and Prestatyn, where specially trained volunteer counsellors answer contacts from worried children across the UK and Channel Islands.
Between April and September, there were 3,665 contacts made to Childline from children and young people in Wales. Almost half of these contacts were about mental or emotional wellbeing, and nearly 500 were about suicidal thoughts and feelings.
NSPCC Cymru’s Supporter Fundraising Manager, Emma Brennan says: “We rely on public support for 90% of our income to help us fund services like Childline and we simply wouldn’t be able to support the children we do without supporters like Emma.
“The money raised for our charity helps fund NSPCC helplines and frontline services, which we are continuing to adapt to support children and their families in Wales through our direct services and free Speak Out. Stay Safe assemblies.”
The charity’s Schools Service has adapted its safeguarding assemblies to a virtual offer for now, which all primary schools across Wales can sign up to for free.
In an accessible and age-appropriate way, the assembly teaches children about Childline and helps them understand how to recognise different forms of abuse and how to speak out if they need to. As well as this, it also focuses on some of the additional worries that children are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emma, who is a third-year student studying philosophy at the University of Glasgow, will be having her locks shaved on Tuesday 1 December. To find out more about the fundraiser visit Emma’s JustGiving page and to find out how you can help fundraise for the NSPCC visit the charity’s website.
Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free and confidential advice on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk
Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 from 7.30am to midnight from Monday to Friday or 9am to midnight on weekends. Or they can get in touch via 1-2-1 chat on www.childline.org.uk. Childline also has a huge online community where children can get support from their peers on message-boards and use expert resources to help them through any issue they are concerned about.
Here at the Child of Wales Awards, we are constantly amazed at the wonderful spirit of compassion and selflessness that so many young people from across the country show towards others.
It’s particularly great to hear the story of one teenager from South Wales who is determined to help one of our sponsored charities – NSPCC Cymru – by becoming a volunteer counsellor for Childline when she turns 16, and is on a fundraising mission to cover the cost of her own volunteer training.
Liz Brennan, 15, has set herself a challenge to run, walk and cycle 870 miles – the length of the Wales coast path – to raise £1,600, which is enough to fund the training of a Childline counsellor.
“Lockdown has been a strange one,” says Liz. “For me personally school work has been overwhelming and the uncertainty surrounding GCSE results this summer has been very stressful.
“My family have been really supportive and we have spent lots of time together at home and we started to go walking and cycling, which made those stressful moments less of a nightmare.
“It’s made me realise that this isn’t the case for many children and young people, which is why I want to support the work of the NSPCC so they can still be there for children.
“I know that the charity needs more volunteers to be able to do that, which is why I have set myself the fundraising challenge, and why I am determined to become a Childline counsellor next year so that I can be there to help others.”
Liz’s plans to apply to be a Childline counsellor were cemented having seen the NSPCC’s recent appeal for Childline volunteers in North Wales, which it made after active volunteer numbers fell significantly because many existing counsellors had to shield during the COVID-19 crisis.
Starting her challenge on Tuesday 1 September, Liz hopes to complete the distance in four
months, managing her runs, walks, and bike rides around her GCSE school work as she returns to the classroom for the start of the new academic year.
Liz from Nantgarw has already been out on some training sessions having swapped her pre-lockdown fitness classes at the gym for cycling.
She says: “To complete the challenge by Christmas I’ll have to average around eight miles every single day over four months. It’s quite a lot as I’ll be having to put the miles in before or after school.
“I saw Rhys Jenkins break the world record for covering the same distance and whilst I’m not going to be doing it that fast, I’m up for giving the distance a go and he has given me some inspiration to do that.”
Liz who attends Bishop of Llandaff School has volunteered with the charity’s fundraising team since the age of eight, supporting coffee mornings, carol concerts, bucket collections, and more recently the 2.6 Challenge.
The charity relies on public donations for 90% of its income, which is why fundraising is so important. It costs the charity £1,600 to train a volunteer counsellor for Childline and £4 to answer a child’s call to Childline.
Two of the NSPCC’s twelve Childline bases across the UK are located in Wales, in Prestatyn and Cardiff, providing support to worried children and young people. Childline counsellors are ready to listen to those who contact the service, giving them a safe space to talk about anything that is happening to them or causing them to worry.
Liz added: “Speaking to my friends, lockdown has been different for all of us and we look at the same situation differently – some of us have struggled and others have enjoyed being at home.
“I want to help make sure that Childline can answer every contact it has from a child or young person because I know that home isn’t a safe space for everyone.”
Debs Davis, Childline Service Manager for Wales, says: “We hear from children and young people every day who need someone to listen to them without judgment.
“It can be about anything, from mental-health and family and relationship concerns, to bullying, abuse, or suicidal thoughts and feelings.
“We are all heartened by the challenge Liz has set herself, raising funds that will help us be there for children and young people.
“It’s wonderful that she is so keen to become a volunteer with Childline because without people volunteering their time to support our charity, and without public donations, we simply couldn’t do what we do.”
The charity is appealing for English and Welsh speaking volunteers at its base in Prestatyn. Successful applicants are asked to give a minimum 4.25 hours per week as a counsellor, and receive a comprehensive training package.
More information is available on the charity’s website. Anyone interested in finding out more about what the role entails and how to apply can contact the staff team on 01745 772 101 or via volunteermail@nspcc.org.uk. To follow Liz’s progress with her challenge or to make a donation visit her JustGiving page.
Anyone with any concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk for advice. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 between 9am or midnight or visit childline.org.uk for free 365 days a year.
The Child of Wales Awards, an event that celebrates the inspirational achievements of children across Wales, has thanked its sponsors for their continued support, which has allowed it to make a substantial donation to charity now, despite its annual event being delayed due to the coronavirus.
The event, originally due to take place in the Celtic Manor on April 3, 2020, will now go ahead on April 9, 2021, after originally being rescheduled for the autumn. The event will also release a video celebrating the achievements of some of the children nominated for awards this autumn.
The Child of Wales will donate £5,000 to each of the charities it is raising money for in recognition of the challenging times they are enduring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Its charities are: Teenage Cancer Trust, Dreams & Wishes and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The Child of Wales is backed by Bluestone National Park Resort, Trade Centre Wales and Bidfood. The category sponsors are: 1192 Laser & Beauty Clinic, Acuity Law, Andrew Rees & Sons Butchers, Barclays, Bibendum Wine, Castell Howell Foods, DWJ Group, DWJ Wealth Management, Gower College Swansea, Iceland Foods, Joe’s Ice Cream, MGY, Mitre Linen, Princes Gate, Principality Building Society, RedKite Solicitors, Sytner BMW and Thomas Recruitment Group.
A number of other companies are helping fund the support packages for the winners, funding their stay at the Celtic Manor and Bluestone. These are: Penguin Recruitment, AB Glass, Work Wales, Gallagher, Seren Global Media, Holder Mathias Architects, Blue Tiger Marketing, Bullock, Storm technologies and MyConcern.
The Child of Wales will also unveil a small number of new awards this autumn, designed to recognise the contribution of young people in Wales who have gone the extra mile for their friends, relatives and their local community in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.
Blanche Sainsbury, the founder of the event, said: “We would, once again, like to thank all of our sponsors, supporters and stakeholders for their continued support during these unprecedented times. It means a lot to us, the charities we are supporting and the children and young people whose lives and achievements we will celebrate. It gives us all hope and something to look forward to in the midst of uncertainty. But in the context of the pandemic and limitations on social gatherings, we have had to map the best way forward for the Child of Wales Awards.
“We have done this in the context of government guidelines and scientific advice and in the best interests of everyone involved in Child of Wales. But we are also still determined to create some magic and offer joy and happiness to individuals – the purpose of Child of Wales. When the event eventually does go ahead next year, we promise the long wait will be worth it – the evening will be amazing. We intend to finally deliver what we started and what so many people have worked so hard to make a very special event.
“Meanwhile, we are acutely aware of the challenges many charities have faced as a result of lockdown and restrictions on society. The delay of our event has limited our ability to fundraise but in light of the funding challenges many charities are facing, we will be presenting our charities with £5,000 each immediately. We hope this will help them through these difficult times. We again thank our sponsors for their continued support, which has made this possible.
“In addition to this, because we did not want to keep our amazing young people waiting that long before their achievements could be recognised, we also have a special surprise in store.
“We will be contacting all our young award winners over the next few months to tell them they have won and give them some very special surprises. We plan to then release a video of celebration, on the original date of the rescheduled awards on October 30.
“Finally, we will be adding a small number of new awards designed to celebrate the bravery and community spirit of Wales’ young people during the pandemic and through lockdown. If anyone is interested in working with us on these or sponsoring then, please get in touch.”
Here at Child of Wales, we are celebrating National Children’s Day today (Sunday May 17), which is dedicated to sharing the activities of all the wonderful organisations that work to promote and protect the wellbeing of children and young people throughout the UK.
The initiative is also inviting children and families to share what they have learnt in the last few months, about being connected as human beings sharing one amazing planet that needs our care. It is seeking entries from children and young people that showcase this in any form ranging from posters to paintings to poems to videos (www.nationalchildrensdayuk.com/)
This seemed like a perfect opportunity to remind ourselves about the fantastic work of some of our main charities and how they continue to help and support young people in these unprecedented times.
Teenage Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialist nursing care and support to young people with cancer, continues to do everything they can to make sure its specialist nurses and dedicated Youth Support Coordinators are still there for young people when they’re needed.
Young people being treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit or ward are continuing to receive care from specialist Teenage Cancer Trust staff even if in a different place, depending on the needs of the NHS Trust in question.
Meanwhile, Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinators are still working with young people going through cancer treatment; they may just be speaking to them by phone or online, instead of face to face in some cases.
For more detail on how this charity is coping during COVID-19 crisis, click here.
Meanwhile, Dreams & Wishes, a volunteer-run charity that works with the families of sick children across the UK, is also continuing to provide vital support throughout a child’s illness and helping to build happy memories by making wishes come true.
The charity has had to change some of its working practices in order to protect the health of its volunteers, the children it supports and their families. However, wherever possible, the charity is continuing to grant the dreams and wishes of seriously ill children and their families.
For more detail on how this charity is coping during COVID-19 crisis, click here.
Finally, the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) Cymru/Wales, continues its work supporting children, young people and their families throughout Wales.
Sadly, its Childline service has been inundated with contacts from children and young people about Coronavirus, and these are steadily increasing. Childline has already counselled hundreds of children and young people concerned about the virus, and young people are finding additional support in one another on its online message boards.
Common issues children are discussing include anxiety, exacerbated by the disruption of their normal routines due to school closures, as well as the inescapable 24/7 news coverage. Many young people are already coping with challenges in some way, whether that’s school, friendships, or just growing up. At this transitional point in their lives, the extra pressure caused by COVID-19 can be very difficult for young people to cope with.
The NSPCC says that talking to people will help a young person realise they are not alone. It’s important we allow them to make time for themselves, create a routine to limit the impact having time off can have on things like mood and sleep, as well as keep them busy with things like exercise, schoolwork or hobbies.
For more detail on how this charity is coping during COVID-19 crisis, click here.
NSPCC Cymru/Wales fundraising colleagues took on their own challenge as part of the 2.6 Challenge on Sunday April 26 to help charities raise money at a time when funding has dropped significantly.
The children’s charity, which relies on public support for 90% of its income, would have had 500 supporters taking on the 40th London Marathon on that day, pushing themselves around the 26.2-mile course to raise money for #TeamNSPCC.
Head of Supporter Fundraising for Wales, Nigel Impey said: “The London Marathon raises around £1.2million for the NSPCC each year, and understandably that isn’t possible this year, so we’re encouraging people to support our charity in other ways, including virtual and home-based challenges.”
The NSPCC has been adapting the way it works so that it is still here for children and their families who need its support through its direct services, as well as its Childline service and the NSPCC Helpline for adults worried about the wellbeing of a child.
Colleagues in the charity’s community fundraising team are willing each other on for the marathon challenge by running, walking and hula hooping.
Emma Brennan, Supporter Fundraising Manager for Wales, said: “More children are reaching out to Childline worried about the Coronavirus, families are struggling to adapt to lockdown, and with schools closed many vulnerable children are at risk.
“We want to ensure we can continue to be here for children, so we organised our own challenge to celebrate how we can still be part of a team even if we aren’t all together, and to show how simple it is to get involved.”
The money raised will help support NSPCC services, including Childline which has seen an increasing number of contacts from children who feel anxious and scared about what’s happening.
Childline counsellors have answered calls from children trapped in homes that aren’t safe, and they’ve also spoken to children with suicidal thoughts and feelings, who feel they have no one else to turn to.
It costs £4 for a trained volunteer counsellor to answer a child’s call for help to Childline.
£27 could pay for a Childline supervisor for one hour, supporting volunteer counsellors.
£190 could pay for one Childline supervisor shift, supporting volunteer counsellors.
£1,250 could pay to run Childline for an average of one hour.
The Child of Wales Awards is proud to be supporting the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) Cymru/Wales, helping it continue its work supporting children, young people and their families throughout Wales.
In these unprecedented times, we caught up with Debs Davis, Childline Service Manager for Wales, who explains how the NSPCC is responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The NSPCC’s Childline service has been inundated with contacts from children and young people about Coronavirus, and these are steadily increasing,” Davis said.
“Childline has already counselled hundreds of children and young people concerned about the virus, and young people are finding additional support in one another on our online message boards.
“Young people aged between 12 and 15 are the most common age group to contact us with worries about coronavirus, but it’s important in these uncertain times that we are talking to our children of all ages and addressing any concerns they may have.
“Common issues children are discussing include anxiety, exacerbated by the disruption of their normal routines due to school closures, as well as the inescapable 24/7 news coverage. This is difficult to comprehend as an adult, but it can be even more challenging for a child to process.
“It makes sense that the constant influx of bad news can be very overwhelming for a child. Many young people are already coping with challenges in some way, whether that’s school, friendships, or just growing up. At this transitional point in their lives, the extra pressure caused by COVID-19 can be very difficult for young people to cope with.
“Common issues discussed by young people include being scared about catching the Coronavirus, concern for family members, and worries of dying.
“With round-the-clock news showing pictures of empty shops and charts of death rates, it makes sense that young people in Wales are picking up on the situation and panicking.
“One young person told Childline: ‘This virus has brought my anxiety up more than anything else in my life.’
“Another added: ‘Everyone is radicalising it and scaring me to the point I’m scared I may do something to myself and I don’t want to face the world because I’m too scared of the virus.’
“We know that some young people don’t get on with their family or feel unsafe at home, and for these young people it’s a particularly challenging time.
“One young person told us: ‘School is my safe, happy place and no matter how bad things at home got it was almost always somewhere I could trust to be safe or, at least, safer than home.’
“Racially charged bullying has been mentioned in some cases due to Coronavirus originating from China.
“My advice to parents, carers and professionals on talking to children about the virus is to balance helping them to understand the facts whilst providing emotional support.
“It’s important not to shy away from talking about the coronavirus with your children. They may have already picked up snippets of information from social media or the news, and even though they haven’t discussed it with you they may be wondering what it means for them and people they care about. Be calm, honest and informed when talking to them about news related to the coronavirus.
“Begin the conversation by asking them what they already know about it. Reassure them that you are going to listen to them, remove any distractions and mute any sounds so that you can give them your full attention.
“Try not to interrupt when they talk to you about it, just let them say what they need to say and pay attention. If they address fears, be sure not to dismiss them. Children will be taking in a lot of information now, and anxious minds can create a variety of worries.
“When they’ve finished, calmly explain the facts of the situation. You can find these through NHS and World Health Organisation sites, with advice on what we know about COVID-19 and how to help protect yourself from it. It’s important to be honest and tailor what you say to their maturity.
“At Childline we know that it can be daunting to try and help a child through challenging times. We recommend that you encourage them to use Childline’s online message boards to talk to other young people about how they’re feeling. They can also draw pictures and play games to relax and have fun.
“Talking to people will help a young person realise they are not alone. It’s important we allow them to make time for themselves, create a routine to limit the impact having time off can have on things like mood and sleep, as well as keep them busy with things like exercise, schoolwork or hobbies.”
Children can also speak to a trained Childline counsellor for free using the Childline website, or by calling 0800 1111.
The National Children of Wales Awards are thrilled to be supporting the NSPCC (The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), a charity campaigning and working in child protection in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands.
The wellbeing of children and young people is central to what the NSPCC stands for. They have been operating for the past 100 years, relying on public donations for 90% of their funding.
Startling statistics show that 1 in 5 children across the UK will suffer from domestic abuse or neglect.
Rory was one of those children.
Ever since he was a young boy, Rory’s step-father would routinely abuse him.
He was a builder by trade, and his strength rendered Rory powerless.
His step-father would also sexually abuse his mother most nights, leading Rory to feel trapped and scared.
These experiences led Rory down a dark path of suicidal thoughts.
He explains one suicide attempt, saying:
“I jumped out of my bedroom window and broke my leg. He came outside, seen what I’d tried to do, laughed it off, and said I can stay there until I freeze. Then he slammed the door, and I slept outside that night with a broken leg.”
Rory explained that his step-father would give him a list of everything he had done wrong, and would force Rory to write him an apology letter.
When writing this letter, Rory had to hold one of his hands flat on the table. Whenever he made a mistake, his step-father would bend one of his fingers back until it popped. This led to Rory’s entire right hand being broken.
Throughout his abuse, Rory was told that if he said anything, his step-father threatened to murder his mother in front of him, and then murder him.
Rory’s ordeal finally came to an end when his step-father was arrested for trying to murder his mother and younger sister, as Rory’s auntie had caught him in the act.
The trauma resulted in Rory being diagnosed with severe depression, and led to another suicide attempt.
He decided to reach out to the NSPCC, and soon began regular counselling sessions which completely changed his life. Of these sessions, he said:
“If it wasn’t for the amazing counsellor at the NSPCC, I would either be dead right now, or in a very dark place.”
There are countless other children who, like Rory, have been through unimaginable trauma but who have found solace with the NSPCC.
Supporting the NSPCC is a very proud moment for us, and we hope that other children like Rory, who are too afraid to speak out, will find the help that they desperately need through this fantastic charity.
The National Children of Wales Awards are proud to be supporting the NSPCC (National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children) Cymru/Wales, helping it continue its work supporting children, young people and their families throughout Wales.
One aspect of this work is its service to schools. Every week of the school term trained volunteers and staff from the Schools Service at NSPCC Cymru/Wales deliver free ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ assemblies and workshops to local primary school children. The sessions empower children, aged 5-11, to understand how to recognise and report abuse in an accessible, interactive, and age-appropriate way.
Offered free of charge to every primary school, in the last academic year the children’s charity delivered the safeguarding sessions at 436 primary schools across Wales, reaching 80,257 children with the help of its popular mascot, Buddy.
In the average primary school classroom, at least two children have suffered abuse or neglect. That’s why it is vital that children are equipped with the knowledge and skills to speak up if something doesn’t feel right, assured that a trusted adult, such as a teacher, will act to keep them safe.
“It can be difficult for teachers and parents to know how to tackle this sensitive but incredibly important subject,” said Candia Crosfield, Schools Manager – South West and Wales Region.
“Through our Speak out. Stay safe. programme we talk to children about the different types of abuse and let them know there are people out there who can help them.”
NSPCC Cymru/Wales is able to offer this important service to primary schools thanks to donations, which the charity relies on to fund 90% of its operations. A donation of £3 can help the Schools Service team reach one primary school pupil, giving them the knowledge to know what to do when something isn’t right. A £90 donation will cover the costs of delivering an assembly to 30 primary school pupils, and £580 will help reach a whole school of children.
Tailored workshops are available for SEND schools, and assemblies and workshops can be delivered in Welsh and English.
Schools can request an NSPCC school visit via the NSPCC Learning website at nspcc.org.uk/speakout
Anyone interested in volunteering for the Schools Service in Wales can contact 0121 227 7577 or email volunteerrecruitment@nspcc.org.uk. The service is currently appealing for more Welsh-language speaking volunteers.
A bespoke design by acclaimed international fashion designer Jayne Pierson, the use of a super yacht for three days and a box at the Royal Albert Hall are just some of the prizes that will be available at the National Children of Wales Awards thanks to the generosity of the business community.
The National Children of Wales Awards will take place at the Celtic Manor on April 3, 2020. The organisers aim to raise £100,000 at the event, which will be distributed to four charities in Wales that help children: The Teenage Cancer Trust, Dreams & Wishes, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the Bluestone Foundation.
The event has already attracted remarkable support from the business community with all award categories now sponsored for the evening – though opportunities remain for businesses to get involved by supporting other aspects of the event.
The event’s two main sponsors are The Trade Centre Wales, one of the largest and fastest growing used car companies in the UK, and Bidfood, one of the largest food wholesalers in the UK.
The category sponsors are: 1192 Laser & Beauty Clinic, Andrew Rees & Sons Butchers, Barclays, Bibendum Wine, DWJ Group, DWJ Wealth Management, Gower College Swansea, Iceland Foods, Joe’s Ice Cream, MGY, Mitre Linen, Princes Gate, Principality Building Society, RedKite Solicitors, Sytner BMW and Thomas Recruitment Group.
But the event hopes to add even more extraordinary auction prizes to the roster – giving it every chance of exceeding its £100,000 target for the evening.
Blanche Sainsbury, chair of the Bluestone National Park Resort and founder of the National Children of Wales Awards, said:
“Companies from across Wales have demonstarted remarkable generosity in their support for the inaugural National Children of Wales Awards through both backing the event as sponsors and by offering some extraordinary auction prizes. We have been blown away by the support for this event so far and we are delighted to still be speaking to a number of businesses and individuals about additional prices and sponsorship opportunities.”
Some 15 children will be recognised at the awards. The categories focus on diversity, bravery, sporting achievements, and will recognise children who help others through championing causes, caring and fundraising.
The prestigious event will feature male voice choir Only Men Aloud, the winners of BBC talent show Last Choir Standing; Angelicus Celtis, a choir of Welsh schoolgirls who reached the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2017; and the event will also feature performances from Motionhouse, a world-class dance-circus production company.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the awards, buying a table or donating an auction prize, please contact Mark Hillary at: mhillary@bluestonewales.com
The National Children of Wales Awards are thrilled to be supporting the NSPCC, also known as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The NSPCC is dedicated to protecting children across the UK from appalling accounts of abuse and neglect, aiming to transform society to ensure the children of the future are safe.
The charity is trying to tackle the all-too-often hidden crime of child sexual exploitation, often referred to as CSE, by working in partnership with regional agencies and bodies.
In Wales, the pioneering ‘Protect and Respect’ scheme is making a difference vulnerable young people who are sadly at risk.
It is offered at two of the three Welsh NSPCC centres in Prestatyn and Swansea and it is aimed 11 to 19 year olds and covers three key areas – protection, risk reduction and recovery.
Delivered through partnership working, the charity is working alongside North Wales Police and other agencies to help keep children safe for the threat of abuse.
In Prestatyn, practitioners from the NSPCC regularly work with the force’s specialist team.
Police officers gather intelligence about CSE so they can identify the current picture across North Wales – where it’s happening, who are the victims and who is responsible.
Following a referral, specially-trained practitioners meet the young person at risk and carry out an assessment, beginning the process of assessing and addressing their needs.
Through a combination of one-to-one sessions and group work, practitioners may work with a child for up to six months but it can be longer. Meanwhile the force’s specialist team maintains a supporting role in the initiative and stays in contact with young people it refers to us, offering help when required.
Importantly, the service offers bespoke support – for example, it is provided in Welsh when it is the spoken language of the young person.
The North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board, which includes the NSPCC, six local authorities, the local police force and health board plus key stakeholders, was also the first regional statutory body in the UK to adopt the NSPCC’s harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) framework, in part due to the work of ‘Protect and Respect’.
Partnerships like this are vital in the NSPCC’s ongoing battle to keep children safe.
The work of the NSPCC in their plight to prevent children from becoming victims of abuse is truly admirable. Countless lives have no doubt been improved or repaired due to their work, which is mostly funded by public donations.
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Even a small donation can make a world of difference.
£3 could pay for the ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’ programme to reach one primary school child, giving them the knowledge to protect themselves from abuse.
£4 could pay for one trained volunteer counsellor to answer a child’s to Childline.
£5 could cover the cost of answering a call to the NSPCC helpline.
£25 could pay for a trained practitioner to deliver one hour of Pregnancy in Mind to help new parents with the ups and downs of having a baby.
We are confident that proceeds from the National Children of Wales Awards will go towards improving the quality of life of children in Wales, as well as across the UK.
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