Offences of Communicating Indecently with a Child recorded by Police Scotland increase by 80% in last five years
True scale of grooming likely to be higher as Facebook tech failures saw drop in removal of abuse material during pandemic
UK Government Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden urged to strengthen draft Online Safety Bill to ensure it responds to the rising threat
Crimes of communicating a sexual message to a child have risen by 80 per cent in the last five years to an all-time high, Police Scotland figures obtained by the NSPCC reveal.
Offenders are exploiting risky design features on apps popular with children, the child protection charity has warned.
The NSPCC is calling on the UK Government to respond by ensuring the ambition of the Online Safety Bill matches the scale of the biggest ever online child abuse threat.
there were 685 offences of Communicating Indecently with a Child recorded between April 2020 and March 2021
thatâs an increase of 80 per cent from 381 in 2015/16
there was also an increase of 5 per cent from 2019/20 – making the number of crimes recorded in the last year a record high
for offences against children under the age of 13, the number of recorded crimes rose by 11 per cent, from 334 to 370, between 2019/20 and 2020/21
A 15-year-old girl told one of our Childline counsellors: âIâve been chatting with this guy whoâs like twice my age. This all started on Instagram but lately our chats have been on WhatsApp.
“He seemed really nice to begin with, but then he started making me do these things to âprove my trust to himâ, like doing video chats with my chest exposed.â*
The NSPCC believes last yearâs figures do not give a full understanding of the impact of the pandemic on childrenâs safety online.
The charity says tech firms failed to adequately respond to the increased risk children faced during lockdowns because of historic inaction to design their sites safely for young users.
The NSPCC welcomes the recent flurry of safety announcements from companies such as Instagram, Apple and TikTok, but says tech firms are playing catch up in responding to the threat after years of poorly designed sites.
The charity is calling on the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden to step up the ambition of the UK Governmentâs Online Safety Bill to ensure proposals comprehensively tackle an online abuse threat that is greater than ever.
The NSPCC says the Draft Online Safety Bill published in May needs to go much further to keep children safe and ensure it creates a practical response that corresponds to the scale and nature of the child abuse problem.
The Bill is due to be scrutinised by a Joint Committee of MPs and Lords from September, which experts say is a crucial opportunity to ensure legislation provides solutions that comprehensively fix the way platforms are exploited by abusers.
The NSPCC wants to see the Bill strengthened to address how abuse rapidly spreads across platforms and ensure it responds effectively to content that facilitates abuse.
Joanne Smith, NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, said: âThe failings of tech firms are resulting in record numbers of children being groomed and sexually abused online.
âTo respond to the size and complexity of the threat, the UK Government must make child protection a priority in legislation and ensure the Online Safety Bill does everything necessary to prevent online abuse.
âLegislation will only be successful if it achieves robust measures to keep children truly safe now and in the future.â
The NSPCC is also urging Facebook to invest in technology to ensure plans for end-to-end encryption will not prevent the tech firm from identifying and disrupting abuse.
The charity says Facebook should proceed only when it can prove child protection tools will not be compromised and wants tougher measures in the Online Safety Bill to hold named-managers personally liable for design choices that put children at risk.
The NSPCC has been calling for Duty of Care regulation of social media since 2017 and has been at the forefront of campaigning for the Online Safety Bill.
Record number of Higher and Advanced Higher passes
Scottish school pupils will receive their official grades today. There were more than 200,000 entries for Higher and Advanced Higher courses this year – and this year’s students have achieved new records.
The number of Higher passes is at a record level since the advent of Devolution, and the number of Advanced Higher passes is the highest since their introduction in 2001.
Almost 137,000 learners are receiving Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) results today â the most since 2017.
Pass rates overall remain high, despite the exceptional challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis, and are significantly higher than the historic picture – up 12.6 percentage points for Highers compared with 2019, but down slightly on last year.
With an exam diet not possible because of the pandemic, this yearâs grades for National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers were based on teachersâ judgement of evidence of attainment.
The results show:
the highest number of Higher passes since at least 1999
the highest number of Advanced Higher passes since the qualifications were introduced in 2001
an increase in the number of entries for National Qualifications compared with 2020
the percentage of grade As awarded at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level is at a record high
pass rates at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher are higher than in 2019, although slightly down on 2020
the poverty-related attainment gap is narrower than in 2019, although slightly wider than in 2020
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: âThis is a strong set of results, achieved under extraordinary circumstances.
âItâs been one of the toughest academic years weâve ever known, with the pandemic throwing significant challenges at our young people. So to have this many learners receiving certificates and for the number of passes at Higher and Advanced Higher to be so high is incredible.
âThese results are testament to the hard work, resilience and determination of learners â and to the dedication of their endlessly supportive teachers and lecturers, who have been with them every step of the way, going above and beyond to make sure pupils got the grades they deserve.
âLearners can be confident that their awards are fair, consistent and credible. Indeed, industry representatives have made it clear how much they value this yearâs qualifications.
âAs in any year, the results highlight some areas for us to focus attention on. Closing the poverty-related attainment gap and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their potential remains central to our work. We know that the challenges presented by the pandemic mean our efforts to deliver equity in education are more vital than ever, so we are investing a further ÂŁ1 billion over the course of this Parliament to help close the gap.
âWhile congratulating those receiving SQA results today, we should also recognise, and celebrate in equal measure, the successes of young people whose achievements are not measured in national qualifications but in other ways. They should be proud of their hard work and resilience during such a difficult year.
âFor some young people, todayâs results may not be what they would have liked. There is always a next step – and there is a range of support and practical advice available for learners, and their parents and carers, to help in that onward journey, whether itâs staying in education, training, or moving into the workplace.â
Fiona Robertson, SQA Chief Executive and Scotlandâs Chief Examining Officer, said yesterday: “Results Day, when learners receive their certificates and find out their grades, is always a significant and important annual date in the calendar.
“This year is very different for lots of reasons, not least because teacher judgement has replaced exams and because learners already know their grades after receiving provisional results before the end of term.
“The 2021 approach to assessment – the alternative certification model (ACM) as it is formally known – has not been without its critics.
“Perhaps that was inevitable given the need to agree and build a new model at pace, but it was the best possible solution in the exceptional circumstances we faced and I have yet to hear a credible alternative put forward.
“As we approach Results Day 2021 tomorrow, it is time to put those criticisms aside and to focus on paying tribute to the tremendous efforts made by Scotlandâs young people in what has been a very difficult and challenging time for many.
“It’s also important to recognise the tireless professionalism and commitment of Scotlandâs teachers, lecturers and support staff who have gone the extra mile to do their utmost for their learners, whom they know best.
“Following the cancellation of exams by the Deputy First Minister, the education sector came together last autumn to form the National Qualifications 2021 Group, which was tasked with developing and implementing an alternative.
“There was no âoff the shelfâ solution but we quickly agreed that the ACM had to have evidence of learnersâ learning and skills at its heart.
“And so provisional results, decided by teachers and lecturers using assessments completed by learners that followed the national standard set by SQA, were used to award this yearâs National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher courses. Those provisional results are the same as the final results learners will receive tomorrow unless the SQA, in very exceptional circumstances, discovered an administrative error.
“As we all know, through this year there have been further restrictions and lockdowns and together with teachers, lecturers, learners, parents and carers, the ACM had to quickly adapt.
“Ways in which the model adapted include the in-built flexibility around when and how schools and colleges assessed learners so that they had the best chance to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.
“A big congratulations to each and every learner getting their certificate. You have achieved so much.”
Open Letter to Young People
Introduction from Sandy Begbie, CEO Scottish Financial Enterprise, Chair of Young Personâs Guarantee Implementation Group, Chair of DYW:
We all know that this year has been a year like no other and understand that the impact on young people has been significant.
Research undertaken with young people by Young Scot reveals anxiety that this yearâs qualifications and achievements will not be valued as highly by employers in comparison to previous years.
My many discussions with industry and employers resoundingly confirms the opposite. Instead my experience is widespread employer admiration for the fortitude and resilience young people have shown throughout all the challenges faced in the past year, and a solid commitment to create opportunities to help shape futures.
Official SQA results are due to be issued on 10 August. This is an opportune moment to communicate through an âopen letter to young peopleâ that Scotlandâs industry and employers stand in support of them, recognise their qualifications, and congratulate them on their achievements. The content of the open letter is attached and includes a number of signatories who represent a broad range of Scotlandâs employers. We couldnât include everyone, however I know there will be many more who stand ready to endorse it.
I therefore kindly ask for your support now, to get behind our campaign and help re-build youth confidence at this critical time.
An open letter to Scotlandâs Young People
While you enjoy the summer and a well-deserved break from your studies we wanted to write to you in our role as Scotlandâs business leaders and on behalf of our networks of thousands of Scottish employers.
As you receive your official SQA results, we want to reassure you that we recognise and value your qualifications as much as any other year. We congratulate you on everything youâve overcome and achieved this year, and you have our support, whatever your needs and wherever your ambitions lie.
Over the past 18 months youâve had to deal with a situation like no other and the flexibility, ingenuity and resilience youâve shown gives us confidence in you as future employees.
We are committed to helping to create job opportunities for you so that you can have a positive future. We are also committed to ensuring that there are opportunities available for every young person and that you have help and support to develop further.
Many people in interesting job roles across Scotland may not have taken an obvious or traditional path. Look out for #NoWrongPath which will show you that, whatever your results, there are different routes into jobs.
There are lots of industries continuing to grow and new ones emerging which offer exciting opportunities. Employers need young people with fresh ideas and experience to get involved and work together with us to tackle big challenges, such as climate change. We will do all that we can to help you find ways to use your skills and talents in the workplace.
We all support the ambition of the Young Personâs Guarantee and its commitment that within two years, every young person aged between 16 and 24, will have the opportunity of a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training programme or volunteering. And weâll keep speaking to young people across Scotland to understand how we can keep delivering on our commitment to you.
Wishing you the very best of luck with your next steps. Scotlandâs employers stand ready to support you. This is our #CommitmentToYOUth.
Signed:
Sandy Begbie, CEO, Scottish Financial Enterprise Marc Crothall, CEO, Scottish Tourism Alliance Louise Macdonald, National Director Scotland, Institute of Directors Damien Yeates, CEO, Skills Development Scotland James Withers, CEO, Scotland Food and Drink Dr Liz Barron-Majerik, Director, LANTRA Lee Ann Panglea, Head of CIPD Scotland and Northern Ireland, CIPD Tracy Black, Director Scotland, CBI Anna Fowlie, CEO, SCVO Fiona Hodgson, CEO, SNIPEF Training Services David Lonsdale, Director, Scottish Retail Consortium Karen Betts, CEO, Scotch Whisky Association Martin Crewe, Director, Barnardoâs Susan Love, Head of External Affairs, The Federation of Small Businesses Liz Cameron, CEO, Scottish Chambers of Commerce Sara Thiam, CEO, Scottish Council for Development and Industry Paul Carberry, Director for Scotland, Action for Children Iain MacRitchie, Founder and Chair, MCR Pathways Anne Wexelstein, Director for Scotland, Career Ready Kate Still, Director Scotland, The Princeâs Trust Kirsten Urquhart, CEO, Young Scot Linda Hanna, Interim CEO, Scottish Enterprise Carroll Buxton, Interim CEO, Highlands and Islands Enterprise Jane Morrison-Ross, CEO, South of Scotland Enterprise
Wendy Robinson, Service Head of Childline, said: “At Childline we know that results day and the period running up to it can be a really challenging time.
âThe impact of the pandemic has made this even more difficult â and young people have told our Childline counsellors they are understandably feeling anxious and stressed.
âThe last year has been incredibly tough for young people with school closures, exam cancellations and changes to the assessment process â so it is vital that they are supported and listened to.
âYoung people have told us theyâre concerned that they may get lower grades than if theyâd been able to sit their exams, or that their results are out of their control – whereas others are concerned that they wonât get the results they need for their future.
âSome also said they struggled to prepare and do the work they were being graded on due to having so much time out of school because of restrictions.
âIf any young person is feeling apprehensive and worried about their results, Iâd urge them to talk to someone about it.
âAnd if they donât get the results they need, there are options they can take and there are trusted adults that they can turn to for help and support. This could be a teacher, careers advisor, parent, carer or Childline.
âOur counsellors are always here to talk to young people whether that be on the phone or online.
âThe conversation will be completely confidential and no worry is ever too small. If it matters to a young person, itâs important to Childline.â
One 16 year old girl said: âIt is exam season and I am missing three very important papers because I have COVID. I feel so trapped and alone in my room. Iâm expected to study for exams as if the pandemic hasnât happened.
“The exam board said theyâd cancel exams yet they proceed to give the papers to schools to give to us to sit which I find so unfair. I have missed months of school, had to learn online, and now I have COVID right before exams. None of this is my fault and I donât understand why my grades should suffer for something that is out of my control. (Girl, 16, Scotland)
Advice
For young peoplewho may not achieved the results they wanted:
Ask a teacher, careers advisor or any adult you trust what they think and discuss your options and how you are feeling.
Remind yourself of what you did well in whether that be specific pieces of coursework, or other parts of your life.
Donât compare yourself to your friends.
If you do not feel your grade reflects your ability speak to your school about making an appeal. This doesnât always mean youâll get a better grade but it can help if you think things would have been different had you sat the exam.
Look at other courses or training programmes and apprenticeships that you can do.
If you havenât got a place at your chosen university, try not to worry as there is a chance you could get a place at another university through the clearing process.
Take a gap year and do something different like volunteering.
Look at different courses that you can do with the grades you have achieved.
For parents and carers:
Your child may find it hard to talk to you about their results so be patient and supportive until they feel ready to talk about how they feel.
Encourage your child to take their time to think about what they want to do next. Thereâs no need to rush into a decision straightaway.
Help them think about their choices by writing down a list of pros and cons for each of their options
If they are finding it hard to talk to you, let them know they can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk
Childline data for the UK
Between April and June this year Childline has delivered 1812 counselling sessions to young people who spoke about concerns relating to exams and exams being cancelled.
This has more than doubled when compared to the same period last year where 861 counselling sessions were delivered.
In 43% of these counselling sessions, a young person also spoke about their mental and emotional health.
985 sessions were delivered to girls (54%), 220 were delivered to boys and 607 of the sessions the gender of the child was either other or unknown (34%).
The EIS has congratulated Scotlandâs senior students after a strong set of qualifications results were confirmed.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “Scotlandâs young people have endured a particularly difficult period over the past year, with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic creating many challenges in all aspects of their lives including their education.
“The late decision to cancel the exam diet and to move to the Alternative Certification Model (ACM) inevitably created additional pressures on students, but it is clear that Scotlandâs young people have performed exceptionally well in the most trying of circumstances and they can be extremely proud of all that they have achieved.”
Mr Flanagan continued, “The additional pressure and workload created by the late move to adopt the ACM, compounded by a three-month lock-down, placed a particularly heavy burden on teachers and lecturers, and they deserve sincere thanks for their absolute commitment to ensuring that young people could receive the grades that they deserved.”
Mr Flanagan added, “As we look ahead to the welcome replacement of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and a refresh of a qualifications system that still places too much emphasis on high-stakes end of year exams, there will be lessons to learn from this yearâs experience.
“Today, however, is about recognising and celebrating the successes of Scotlandâs young people.”
The NSPCCâs Childline has delivered 305 counselling sessions to young people in Scotland about gender identity and sexuality in the past year.
In more than 170 of these counselling sessions, young people mentioned coming out as a concern – an 11% increase from the previous year.
The childrenâs charity has released this data to mark Pride Month. Childline currently has around 370 volunteer counsellors, across its Glasgow and Aberdeen bases, who have heard first-hand how tough the past year has been for many children and young people due to challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic. Many have struggled with local lockdowns and being cut off from their usual support networks, while others have been worried about returning to school.
However, some young people described the lockdown as a time of reflection and a chance to take stock, and finding confidence to come out to their friends and family. Some also talked about feeling worried about the reaction they would get from other people.
A young person who spoke to Childline said: âI want to tell somebody that I’m gay but I just can’t find the courage to. I don’t want people to judge me or treat me any differently if they find out. Some people really hate gay people and I’m scared of what will happen if I tell someoneâ. (Girl, aged 12)
As restrictions continue to ease, it remains vital that all children and young people know where they can access help and support.
This Pride Month, Childline reminds young people that the service is here for them. All children can speak to a trained volunteer counsellor over the phone, via email or on a one-to-one chat on the Childline website.
The NSPCC also has information on itâs website for parents and carers on how to talk to children about their sexuality and advice on how to help keep them safe.
Lauren Burke, Childline Glasgow team manager, said: âAt Childline, we know that coming out or speaking about sexuality and gender identity can be really challenging.
âMany children and young people who have spoken to our trained volunteer counsellors have described their time under lockdown as a period of reflection, a chance to think about important issues in their lives, both recent and historic.
âSome children with sexuality and gender concerns revealed that lockdown had been particularly hard for them, as theyâd been cut off from their usual support networks. Whereas others told Childline that lockdown had given them the confidence and freedom to come out to their friends and family.
âNo matter what a young personâs experience is with coming out or speaking about their gender identity or sexuality, at Childline we believe every young person has a right to be listened to and speak about any worries or questions they may have without feeling judged.
âIf a young person feels unable to speak to a trusted adult in their life then we would encourage them to speak to Childline.â
Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.
Since April last year, our trained Childline counsellors have delivered more than 73,000 counselling sessions with young people who were struggling with their mental and emotional health. And more than 5,000Â of these counselling sessions were with children aged 11 or under, an increase of nearly a third when compared to the year before.
However, as a charity that receives 90% of our income from the public, we know this is something we have not achieved alone, and we are hugely grateful for the dedication and commitment of our supporters, which allow us to continue this work.
One way that the public can support us is through the Peopleâs Postcode Lottery, and since 2018, players have provided crucial funding to the sum of almost ÂŁ6 million to the NSPCC to help the charity keep children safe and well.
The funds have been used to support our vital services across Scotland. This includes our schools service programme, helping primary school children speak out and stay safe from abuse, and our service centre in Govan, Glasgow, providing therapeutic services to families. And, of course, Childline, which provides free and confidential counselling to children and young people in need of support.
Childline is a lifeline for many children and over the past year thousands of young people have needed it more than ever due to the challenges they have faced during the pandemic. Local lockdowns, school closures, isolation and the impact of being separated from family and friends led many children to get in touch with the service over the phone or online.
The money raised by players of Peopleâs Postcode Lottery has been invaluable in helping our frontline staff be here for children during their darkest hours.
Moving forward, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, it remains vital that children and young people know where they can access help and support.
We can only make a difference for children together, and we simply couldnât continue to run services like Childline without the publicâs support.
The service made nearly 2,500 referrals to external agencies such as the police and local authorities from April 2020 to March 2021, compared with 1,781 in 2019/20.
Referrals are made when concerns reported to the helpline are considered to be serious enough to warrant further investigation or if it is felt a family needs support.
The figures echo concerns from the charityâs frontline teams that the pandemic has increased the risks of abuse and neglect, with children both more vulnerable and out of sight of people who can keep them safe.
The NSPCC is now warning that with most children back in schools and society, the hidden harms they experienced during the lockdowns will become visible.
The charity is calling for the Governments across the UK to invest in a positive future for children by ensuring their catch-up plans go beyond education.
In the short term, they must address the harm and trauma children may have faced in the past 12 months, but Governments must also use the opportunity to invest in keeping children safe and well in the future.
The charity believes that investing in support for very young children must be a priority for the next Scottish Government, because this is a particularly vulnerable stage in life when foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing are built.
It is crucial that there is substantial investment in public services â universal and specialist – so all parents in Scotland are supported to give their children the best start in life.
This includes worries about parental alcohol and substance misuse, domestic abuse and parental mental health.
This was followed by:
Physical abuse, which increased by 42% to 490 referrals
Neglect, which increased by 2% to 422 referrals
Emotional abuse, which increased by 15% to 289 referrals
A parent from Scotland who contacted the helpline said: âI was recently let go from my job and I havenât been coping well with the stress of it all. Iâve been drinking more than I used to and me and my wife argue almost every day.
“Sometimes the rows happen in front of our two-year old daughter – Iâm worried what affect it must be having on her.
âMe and my wife have tried couples counselling in the past but it didnât really work for us. I really want to get my anger under control so Iâm hoping you might be able to help.â
Undertake a Scotland-wide needs assessment to build a true picture of infancy across the country and where there are gaps in support, or systems which need to change.
Follow the blueprint set out in the Independent Care Reviewâs Promise report, build intensive family support provision, considering specifically what support families with young children need.
Invest in specialist services which support the parent-child relationships so all parents in Scotland are enabled to give their children the best start in life.
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said: â”Weâve been hearing first-hand about the immense pressures families have faced during the pandemic and the heavy toll that has taken on children and young people. For some children, this has included experiencing abuse, bereavement and other harm.Â
âThe record number of contacts to our helpline reinforces the need for Governments across the UK to put children at the heart of their recovery plans. These must go beyond education and address the harm some have experienced so the pandemic doesnât leave a legacy of trauma for children.
âBut this isnât just a job for our Governments. Everyone has to play their part in keeping children safe. And thatâs why weâre planning Childhood Day on 11 June when weâll celebrate childhood and encourage people to get involved in making sure all children grow up happy and safe.â
The campaign will celebrate childhood by bringing the nation together to play, raise money and help keep children safe. It will put a spotlight on what it is to be a child, whilst also showing we must work together to prevent abuse and protect children.
Linda Hamilton, from Port Seton, has worked as a community fundraising manager for NSPCC Scotland for four years and will take on the three-day challenge as part of this yearâs virtual Kiltwalk. The money raised will be topped up by 50% by the Hunter Foundation, organisers of the annual event.
Linda Hamilton, community fundraising manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: âThis last year has been tough for all of us, and children have been the hidden victims of the pandemic.
“With schools closed for lots of the last year, children have been cut off from their friends and support networks, with many young people feeling alone and isolated, and some, sadly, having to deal with bereavement.â
The NSPCC supports children and young people around the country by providing its Childline service, which children can contact to speak to a trained counsellor about anything they are worried about.
The charity also has a service centre in Govan, Glasgow, which provides community outreach and therapeutic services to local families, helping them to provide the best support to their children.
Linda added: âIt has also been a challenging year for fundraising, as most events were postponed, cancelled or held virtually. But thatâs not stopped our amazing supporters from coming up with innovative ways of raising funds.
“After last yearâs Kiltwalk was cancelled, one of our Childline volunteers, Siobhain, took it upon herself to walk a full marathon in her back garden, taking her more than eight hours, raising ÂŁ1,000.
âWeâve also had people host virtual quizzes and bingo games, as well as âcelebrate and donateâ in which supporters have simply set up a Just Giving page and asked their friends and family to make a donation instead of buying them a gift for their birthday or other celebration.
âI signed up for my three-day Kiltwalk challenge because I know how important the work of the NSPCC is, and the real difference it can make in children and young peopleâs lives.â
Linda will complete the challenge around Port Seton, and the âtennisathonâ will take place at her local club of eight years, Longniddry Tennis Club.
Linda said: âWe can only continue to be there to support children and young people with the help of the general public, and if anyone would like to fundraise for the NSPCC, please do get in touch with me at linda.hamilton@nspcc.org.ukâ
To sign up for this yearâs virtual Kiltwalk, and raise money for NSPCC Scotland, search âvirtual kiltwalkâ, and to sponsor Linda in her challenge visit: https://bit.ly/3mvhfsY
Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline at any time on 0800 1111.
The charity is hosting its second virtual âSpeak Out. Stay Safeâ assembly on Tuesday morning at 10am to help keep children safe and well during the pandemic
Parents and children are being encouraged to join the assembly that will be held on the NSPCC Facebook page
The first virtual assembly that aired online in June has had more than 100,000 views
Amid growing concerns about the impact of COVID19 on childrenâs safety and mental health and wellbeing the NSPCC is holding a second virtual âSpeak Out. Stay Safeâ assembly on Facebook tomorrow (Tuesday February 23rd) at 10am.
The special broadcast suitable for children aged five and over aims to help them understand how to speak to a trusted adult if they feel anxious or worried, and it explains the support that Childline can offer.
It will also focus on some additional concerns that some children are experiencing due to the pandemic.
The assembly will see the return of guest hosts Ant & Dec and features an appearance from comedian David Walliams. The TV duo who have been long term supporters of the childrenâs charity hosted the first online assembly in June last year which received over 100,000 views on Facebook and YouTube.
A recording of Tuesdayâs online assembly will also be available on the NSPCCâs website, Facebook and YouTube channel after the event for anyone who misses it.
One Facebook user who watched the first assembly said:â My boys loved it and following a family bereavement this gave them an opportunity to talk about their feelings. We took blank paper and marked it for every worry or fear we had and shared.â
With many vulnerable children still facing increased risks at home and with others struggling with their mental health due to the challenges posed by the pandemic, itâs vital that children know what to do and who to speak if something is worrying or upsetting them.
The coronavirus related worries the assembly will cover include, children not being able to see their family and friends, changes in daily routines, experiencing new feelings and spending more time online.
Guest hosts Ant & Dec said:
Ant: âAfter what has been an incredibly difficult start to the year for many young people, we feel privileged to once again be hosting the NSPCCâs virtual assembly for children and their families.
Dec: âWe hope we can remind children that they donât have to just carry their worries with them â they can always speak to someone they trust if theyâre feeling sad, overwhelmed, or unsafe.â
Service Head of School Service, Janet Hinton said: âThe lockdown has turned the lives of children upside down and many are struggling to cope with the challenges it has posed.
âAlthough our trained âSpeak Out. Stay Safeâ staff canât currently go into schools, it is essential that every child knows who they can turn to if they need help and support.
âAfter watching the assembly, parents and carers can continue this conversation with their children by visiting the NSPCC website where they can find additional activities.â
Prior to the pandemic, âSpeak Out. Stay Safeâ had been delivered in 96% of primary schools across Scotland with trained NSPCC volunteers and staff delivering the assembly and workshop with the help of âSpeak Out. Stay safeâ mascot, Buddy the speech bubble.
The importance of empowering children to understand that they have the right to speak out and stay safe has been highlighted in a recent court case which saw 63-year-old Sidney Sales from Luton jailed for three years after a girl spoke about the abuse she had suffered following seeing the NSPCC assembly at school.
Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
The latest data from the NSPCC shows there has been an increase in contacts about this issue from children aged 12 to 15, across the country, since the end of March last year.
In the latter nine months of 2020, the average monthly number of contacts from this age group was 100 compared to 88 in the first three months of the year.
Across the UK, the service has now delivered a total of 54,926 counselling sessions to children of all ages on this issue from April to the end of December against the backdrop of the pandemic.
Childline counselling is delivered by volunteers and in response to these latest worrying figures and with COVID restrictions continuing, the service is urgently appealing to those who can spare four hours one evening a week or at the weekend to volunteer at either our Glasgow or Aberdeen base, so Childline can be here for children when they need us the most.
With schools closed to the majority of pupils until at least February and the whole of mainland Scotland in lockdown, Childline has never been more important as a source of support for young people who are struggling. Now more than ever, it is essential that children are not left isolated, alone and unsupported.
Over the past ten months, the NSPCC-run serviceâs trained counsellors have heard first-hand the devastating impact that the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic have had on young peopleâs mental health.
Children who contacted Childlineâs trained counsellors about their mental health spoke about concerns including loneliness, low mood, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety.
Some have been feeling isolated and overwhelmed due to concerns about family members catching the virus, or school closures and cancelled exams – while others have felt cut off from support networks and are missing family and friends.
One girl aged 16 who contacted Childline said: âI feel really sad and lonely. I need to talk to someone because I donât really have anyone right now.
“I am really struggling with the whole isolation thing. Most days I find myself just lost in my own thoughts and feeling numb. I am classed as a vulnerable person, so my isolation lasts for 12 weeks, which seems like a lifetime.â
Since the first lockdown last year, mental health has remained the top concern that children and young people talked to Childline about.
The service has delivered an average of 346 counselling sessions every month on this issue with the numbers fluctuating throughout the year as the situation changes and Covid restrictions were lifted and re-imposed. Since the latest national lockdown many children have been reaching out and talking about this and Childline is continuing to support them with their worries.
During the pandemic, Childline has continued to adapt to ensure it can still be here for children including developing online training so volunteers can answer emails from young people remotely. However, despite this, since last March volunteer numbers have dropped by 40%.
Despite, the latest national lockdown, Childline will remain open and staff and volunteers have been given key worker status to continue their vital work. Sparing a few hours, one evening a week or at the weekend volunteering at a local Childline base can help ensure Childline continues to support children who often have nowhere to turn.
But there is also a range of other ways to support the charity, including taking on a sponsored challenge, Kick the Caffeine, or fundraising in the community.
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Childline Founder and President, Dame Esther Rantzen said:âWith schools now shut again and children spending more time behind closed doors, it is absolutely imperative that Childline is there for them.
âMany young people, especially those in unsafe homes, are feeling desperately anxious and depressed. School can be the only safe haven they know, and without that support they feel entirely alone. For them, Childline is literally a life-line.
âBut the service urgently needs more volunteers to listen to and support children, and more funds to pay for their calls and on-line contacts, and for that we depend upon the generosity and compassion of the public.
âIt is the NSPCCâs mission to make 2021 a better year for children, and with your help we can make this dream a reality.â
Lou Bewick, who is a Childline volunteer counsellor in the Glasgow base, said:âEach shift I work, I hear from children and young people about how this pandemic has affected their life, and how it has impacted their mental and emotional health.
âChildline is here for children, and will continue to offer support from trained counsellors when they contact us about anything that worries them.
âHowever, we currently canât answer every child so, if you can, please sign up and volunteer for Childline and help us reach every child who needs our support.â
The NSPCC has been supported by players of Peopleâs Postcode Lottery who provided crucial funding of ÂŁ1,000,000 to Childline last year, the equivalent of running the service for an entire month.
Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 from 7.30am to 3.30 am from Monday to Friday or 9am to 3.30am at weekends.
Latest figures show that the average monthly number of referrals from the NSPCC helpline to external agencies about child abuse in Scotland has increased by more than 50%
Over 900 referrals made by the helpline to agencies in Scotland about child abuse and neglect in eight months since the start of lockdown
The NSPCC is highlighting the vital role its team of professionals and volunteer counsellors will play to support children over the festive period, urging the public to support its Here for Children Christmas Appeal
Concerns about child abuse have soared since national lockdown measures were first introduced, the NSPCC has found â with the average monthly number of referrals from the charityâs helpline on the issue increasing by more than 50% in Scotland.
Since April, the helpline has received 31,359 contacts from adults across the UK who were anxious about child abuse or neglect, referring half (50%) of these on to external agencies like the police and social services to take further action.
In Scotland, this has led to a 56% increase in the average monthly figure from 72 at the start of the year, compared to 113 after lockdown. Over the last eight months, there has been more than 900 referrals from the helpline concerning the abuse of children in Scotland.
As the festive period fast approaches, the NSPCC has issued the findings as a warning that Christmas can be a very difficult time for children suffering abuse and neglect, and the impact of the Coronavirus could put even more children at risk.
To help protect children stuck at home in environments that are not safe, the charity is urging the public to search âNSPCCâ and donate ÂŁ20 via itâs Here for Children Christmas appeal page.
A concerned adult told the NSPCC helpline: âI am ringing with concerns for 3 children who I believe are being emotionally abused and neglected. The police were recently called to the family home because the mother was drunk and had left the children at home alone all night.
âThe father, who no longer lives with the children, found out and came to the house saying he was going to take the children home with him. The children have said they want to move in with me before Christmas because they donât want to live with their Mum or Dad.
“They are really worried that their mothers drinking will get worse over Christmas, as it has done in the past. I fear they could be right as her drinking is becoming worse and she has been drunk more frequently in recent months. They need urgent help.â
Kamaljit Thandi, Head of NSPCC helpline said: “These figures highlight the increase in the number of adults reaching out with concerns about the welfare of children since the first national lockdown began.
âItâs no secret that this Christmas is going to be a very different one and for thousands of children, being stuck at home for the holidays will be a terrifying thought. At the NSPCC, we know how important it is that people have the opportunity to speak up when they think a child is at risk of abuse and neglect. Our helpline for adults and Childline will be open every day over the festive period.â
As well as urging the public to be extra vigilant during the Christmas holidays, NSPCC Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to ensure children and families can get the help they need in the short and long term.
To avoid this crisis having a lasting impact on a generation of children, it is crucial that the Scottish Government invests long-term funding to support them to recover from adverse and traumatic experiences during lockdown and to rebuild their lives.
The charityâs team of professionals working on its helpline for concerned adults and the dedicated volunteer counsellors at Childline will all play a vital role in being here for children this Christmas.
Pauline, a volunteer counsellor at Childline said: âAt Childline we know how important it is that we are here for children over the Christmas period. We are there for young people when they need the service the most and for many – Christmas will be that time.
“The pandemic has had a huge impact on young people and for the many who will have nowhere else to turn, we will provide a vital listening ear.â
Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week throughout the festive period on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk
More than 250 offences of communicating indecently with a child in Scotland in four months after lockdown began
UK Prime Minister told bring forward tough Online Harms legislation that combats crime and brings in meaningful sanctions for rogue tech firms
Online grooming crimes in Scotland were more than 30% higher while children were not at school during the Coronavirus pandemic compared with the same months last year, the NSPCC can reveal.
The new data shows Police Scotland recorded 268 offences of communicating indecently with a child from April 1 to July 31 this year compared to 203 crimes in the same period last year, with the true scale of the problem likely to be much higher.
Yesterday, Police Scotland revealed that it had seen an 18% rise in all online child sexual abuse crimes between April and September this year compared to the same period last year.*
The findings have led to renewed calls for Boris Johnson to get tough on tech firms that fail to do enough to prevent offenders exploiting their sites and abusing children.
Offences have also increased annually in the three years prior to lockdown. In total, there were 1,661 offences recorded by Police Scotland from April 2017 to March 2020, with experts saying poorly designed social media sites are putting children at risk.
The NSPCC warned the pandemic had created a perfect storm for online offenders and believes these figures could mark the start of a surge in online grooming crimes.
With ongoing Coronavirus restrictions across the UK and children spending more time at home and online, the charity believes that the risk of online abuse will continue to spike, and many more offences may come to light when children report them at school.
One girl who contacted Childline during the pandemic said: âI am 12 and I donât have social media but I wanted to get online and chat to people since my friends had done it and told me it would be fun. It started off fine with the occasional âhiâ and then men started sending d*** pics and saying really personal things.â
The new data comes as the UK Prime Minister makes vital decisions about online harms legislation that will create a Duty of Care on tech firms, with an announcement expected within weeks.
Itâs understood the Online Harms White Paper consultation response has been signed off by the UK Governmentâs Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and the Home Office and is sitting with Boris Johnson.
The Prime Minister is being urged to ensure companies and named managers can be held criminally responsible for failing to protect children from avoidable harm and abuse.
The need for a bold and ambitious response from Government has been heightened by the knock-on effects of the pandemic.
Criminals are exploiting the fact that children are spending more time online and high-risk video chatting and livestreaming services have become more popular.
After years of failed self-regulation, many platforms were easily exploitable for groomers during lockdown, with many seeing the crisis as an opportunity to commit abuse.
The NSPCC wants the upcoming Online Harms Bill to compel firms to consider child protections when they design their sites to prevent harm rather than react once the damage is done.
But it is warning tough deterrents will be needed to make some of the worldâs biggest companies stand up and listen, and is concerned the UK Government may not go far enough.
NSPCC Chief Executive Peter Wanless said:âFamilies have long paid the price for big techâs failure to protect children from abuse, but the Prime Minister has the chance to turn the tide and put responsibility on firms to clean up the mess they created.
âAs the pandemic intensifies the threat children face online, bold and ambitious action is needed in the form of a world-leading Online Harms Bill.
âThis means legislation that is tough on online crimes against children and regulation that holds tech companies and bosses financially and criminally responsible if they continue to turn a blind eye to entirely avoidable harm.â
Detective Chief Superintendent Samantha McCluskey, head of Police Scotland’s Public Protection Unit, said: âThe digital world opens up massive opportunities for us all.
“As a society it has become integral to our daily lives, particularly for children and young people, whose key means of communication during this pandemic has been online. It is important that we take every opportunity to ensure young people stay safe and are protected.
âOnline predators will infiltrate those platforms and apps most used by children. Tech companies and service providers have a key role, and a responsibility, in ensuring young people can access their services safely and that predators are identified and dealt with before they can groom or abuse children in the virtual or real world. Working together we can make the online world safe for all children.”
Last month the NSPCC laid out six tests the UK Governmentâs regulation of social media will be judged on if it is to achieve bold and lasting protections for children online.
The charity said in order to make the UK a world-leader in child protection online, regulation must:
Create an expansive, principles-based duty of care
Comprehensively tackle online sexual abuse
Put legal but harmful content on an equal footing with illegal material
Have robust transparency and investigatory powers
Hold industry to account with criminal and financial sanctions
Give civil society a legal voice for children with user advocacy arrangements.
Instagram was the most used platform in child grooming crimes during lockdown, research by the NSPCC suggests.
New data shows there were more than 1,200 online grooming crimes recorded against children in the three months from April to June, with the true scale of the problem likely to be much higher.
The figures reveal how Instagram is increasingly being exploited by offenders. It was used in 37% of cases where the platform was recorded, compared with 29% over the previous three years.
The findings have led to renewed calls for Boris Johnson to get tough on tech firms that fail to do enough to prevent offenders exploiting their sites and abusing children.
Freedom of Information responses from 38 police forces in England and Wales show that 1,220 offences of Sexual Communication with a Child were recorded in the first three months of lockdown.
Facebook-owned apps (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp) were used in 51% of instances where the means of communication was recorded. Snapchat was used in 20% of instances for which data was available.
