Tag: Christmas appeal

£5 Christmas Appeal: itison founder calls for action to help children who will have nothing this winter

SCOTTISH BUSINESS OWNER SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE TRAGIC STATE OF POVERTY IN SCOTLAND: “CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL SPEND CHRISTMAS DAY WITHOUT A HOT MEAL, GIFT OR SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME – WE NEED YOUR HELP TO BREAK THIS CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS”

Founder of Scottish business, itison, Oli Norman, has spoken out about the ‘devastating’ level of poverty in Scotland this festive season. To tackle this, the company has once again launched its £5 Christmas appeal in a bid to raise thousands for people who are vulnerable and homeless this winter, in partnership with Social Bite.

The annual initiative, which allows generous Scots to buy a person, family, or child who is homeless or vulnerable a hot Christmas meal or gift for just £5, comes amidst news that more children in Scotland will be homeless and hungry this Christmas than ever before.

Over the last decade, the itison £5 Christmas Appeal campaign has raised more than £3 million, with 700,000 donations made, meaning hundreds of people each year are able to enjoy a hot meal or a gift on Christmas Day at one of Social Bite’s coffee shops. Every year, the number of people accepting these meals increases, with more and more people visiting Social Bite on Christmas Day to enjoy good company, warmth, and a hearty meal.

Social Bite and itison have surveyed the drastically declining rate of security for vulnerable people across Scotland since last year and work closely with people who receive support from Social Bite’s services to hear their stories.

Two regular attendees of the festive meals are father and son Jim and Billy. The pair have attended the Social Bite Christmas meals, in partnership with itison, for over five years. The meals mean so much to them that in past years, Jim and Billy have walked from as far as Rutherglen in to Glasgow to have their festive celebrations with the charity.

Billy said: “Every year that we’ve been has been brilliant. There’s no public transport on Christmas Day, so for a few years we walked in until my dad got a bit older.

“They welcome you in, you get a nice meal. It’s turkey, potatoes, you get your dessert. It’s good portions. Not too big, but it’s not too wee. And the gifts you get are unbelievable.”

Jim added: “Last year we got a charger for our phone, a pair of slippers, sweeties. Hats, scarves, gloves, a thermal to keep you warm when you’re outside. For a lot of people who are otherwise by themselves, who don’t get anything, they’re over the moon.”

Over the years they’ve got to know some familiar faces. But it’s the ones who don’t return – reflecting the instability and dangers of homelessness – that stick most with Jim and Billy.

Jim commented: “The thing that’s quite sad is you see a lot of people and then you don’t see them, because of their situations. You get to know people, and then you’re told ‘they’re no longer here.’

“It’s the young ones. One minute you see them, and the next year they’re not here.”

It was revealed earlier this year that the increase in homelessness in Scotland poses a ‘serious risk’ to life as a lack of accommodation is leaving people without somewhere safe to call home, forcing them to endure freezing temperatures and extreme weather conditions.

Oli Norman, owner of itison, said: “It’s 2024, and people are still going hungry, still without a decent home, still living on the streets, and still at serious risk because there is not enough accommodation for people who need it. The cost of living is still increasing, pushing more people into devastating poverty.

“There is simply not enough support for people who are, or are at risk of becoming, vulnerable and homeless. Families and children across the country will be spending Christmas Day without a hot meal, gift or safe place to call home – more must be done.

“We hope that once again our £5 voucher can bring some comfort to people who need it this festive season. We are urging people to please go online and buy a voucher for the same price as a coffee or a meal deal – we need your help to break this cycle of homelessness. Let’s act now.”

Social Bite founder Josh Littlejohn MBE said: “Social Bite is experiencing unprecedented rise in demand from people who are homeless across the country due to the national housing emergency and the increasing cost of living.

“The itison £5 Christmas appeal is a simple way for people to get involved and help bring some joy to people and families who are homeless and need it most this winter.

“For many people across the country, Christmas Day can be extremely challenging, but with the itison £5 voucher, you can give someone the chance to have a hot meal and enjoy some good company on what should be the most joyful day of the year.

“This year, you also can make a child’s day with a Christmas gift for £5. Thank you to the amazing Scottish public for your continued support this Christmas.”

The £5 vouchers are available now at itison.com.

In addition to the itison £5 Christmas Appeal, donations and gifts can be made to Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness online or at one of the Trees of Kindness located throughout the UK.

For a full list of essential items needed, and to make a donation online, visit: social-bite.co.uk/festival-of-kindness/.

  • Dundee – Union Street
  • Glasgow – Vinicombe Street
  • Edinburgh – Castle Street & The Pitt Market, Granton
  • London – the Strand, outside Charing Cross station
  • Aberdeen – outside the Bon Accord Centre

Letter: PDSA Christmas appeal

Dear Editor,

PDSA is appealing for support so that we can continue to help keep people and pets together this Christmas.

Our charity provides free and low cost vet care for owners who are struggling to afford the treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. The cost of living crisis is hitting hard meaning many people are struggling  – nearly a quarter (23%) of the owners we help have used a food bank for them or their family over the last 12 months. With basic essentials such as food unaffordable for so many, our vital, life-saving services are needed now more than ever.

In December 2022 our dedicated teams treated more than 53,000 pets, and performed over 2,300 operations. In fact, we treat 10 pets every minute! But in the last 12 months there has been an estimated 1.6% increase in people receiving benefits, meaning many more people are now eligible for our charitable veterinary services. This equates to an additional 83,000 people who may turn to us, desperate for help in their time of need.

Our pets give us so much unconditional love and companionship, but without our help thousands of people could suffer a devastating loss because they can’t afford vital treatment for their pet. We don’t receive any government funding, relying entirely on generous public support to keep our 48 Pet Hospitals open.

Please donate today and together we can help save pets’ lives this Christmas – pdsa.org.uk/together-this-winter

Nina Downing

PDSA Vet Nurse

Santa Paws! Christmas Day at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

Christmas is a wonderful time for so many; filled with love and connection, and at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home it’s no different. For many staff, Christmas day is spent at the Home, looking after the animals and sharing Christmas cheer.

A typical Christmas day at the Home consists of even more love, treats and playtime for its residents. In the lead up to the big day, members of the team have wrapped up presents for every animal to open and enjoy. The dogs are taken for a big run around outside, followed by Christmas snacks, presents and lots of cuddles.

The team give each cat a gift to suit their personal tastes such as a soft toy or a ball, but inevitably, they’re more interested in the wrapping paper! They are then treated with Tuna, Sardines and gourmet cat food for their delicious Christmas dinner.

The Home works endlessly all year round to help keep pets in their loving homes, but sadly receive a heart-breaking number of surrender requests when owners are no longer able to care for their pet.

Earlier this year Simon came to the Home as a young puppy after being found tied to a park bench alone in the early hours of a cold Spring morning, beside a plastic bag with his belongings. Simon was left frightened, malnourished and anxious.

When he arrived at the Home he quickly captured the whole team’s hearts. Thanks to the  care, love and hard work he received, Simon gained enough confidence, and condition, to be ready to go to his forever home.

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home said: ‘Our team creates something truly special here at Christmas.  Everyone is so dedicated to the animals and mission that we are more than happy to spend the day here at the Home. It’s always such high spirits, with everyone chipping in to make the day all the more fun for each other and for the dogs and cats.

“Until the animals are rescued and re-homed, we are their family, and Christmas is the time for family.”

The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home finds winter an especially difficult season as higher costs drain funds while demand for their vital services increases.

To help get through the winter months, the Home recently launched a Winter Appeal, seeking donations to enable the Home to cope with the increased demand, continue providing vital support to animals in need and help people to keep their beloved pets at home.

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To make a donation and to read more of their life-altering stories please visit www.edch.org.uk/winterappeal OR text SURRENDER to 70560 to donate £5.

Donations of £20 can provide a cat with the vaccinations they require to be rehomed or £100 could keep a dog warm in the Home for three months.

Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more, text SURRENDERNOINFO instead.

Charity calls for Christmas toy donations to meet demand

Families across Britain are being asked to make room for Christmas and donate their children’s unwanted treasures to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), as the charity deals with bumper demand for toys, boardgames and puzzles this festive season.

To help encourage donations, the charity has released a series of images where cheeky elves can be seen guiding toys to the nearest BHF shop including jumping into a doll’s car to offer directions to the nearest BHF shop, dusting off board games and firing up a helicopter to hoist cuddly toys out of their basket.  

The elves’ endeavours come as the charity has said demand for second hand toys has increased and the BHF urgently needs quality donations to keep shops stocked with second hand gifts for Christmas. 

The BHF is calling on families who might be clearing out the toy boxes and cupboards to make room for Christmas by donating their unwanted items so another child can enjoy a preloved treasure.

Whether it’s a Barbie that never made it out of the box, a Lego set your child has outgrown, or a puzzle they no longer use, the charity is encouraging the public to drop them off at their local BHF shop and send them to a new home.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the BHF says, “Christmas is an incredibly expensive time of year especially for families. BHF shops are a fantastic place to pick up gifts for all the family at a fraction of the price.

“We’re already seeing an increased demand for toys and games ahead of the festive season. So, as you start decluttering to make room for Christmas in your home, please consider donating unwanted toys, games and puzzles to the BHF for new families to enjoy.

“I’ll be asking my own boys to fill a box with pre-loved toys and games that they’d want another child to enjoy as much as they did. As well as making another child’s Christmas, every item will give a gift that keeps on living by funding vital research to help the 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK.”  

Donating to the British Heart Foundation is easy. Simply drop your toys off at any of the BHF’s 680 shops or you can post them using the BHF’s free downloadable label, available from its website. 

BHF Retail Ambassador Dr Helen Nuttall, founder of What Luna Wore and mum of one, is supporting the toy donation drive and said: “My daughter and I have really enjoyed making room for Christmas by sorting out toys and games we no longer play with to donate to the British Heart Foundation.

“Knowing that these toys will find a new home in time for Christmas and help fund vital research into heart and circulatory diseases is special.

“Donating to charity increases dopamine and makes you feel good, as might the rewarding activity of shopping preloved. The festive season can be a time of excess so if you’re looking for a gift that means more, consider checking out your local BHF shop for Christmas treasures.”

“If you donate to the BHF, you’ll make someone else’s day by giving your toys a new home and a new lease of life. Let’s help the elves dust off our pre loved toys and generously donate them to find a new home this Christmas.” 

Christopher’s top tips for donating toys: 

  1. If you can, make sure board games and puzzles have all the pieces in the box before donating them. A missing ‘Z’ in a Scrabble set can stand in the way of winning or losing and we don’t want to be responsible for that! 
  2. The exception to the tip above is sets of Lego or Duplo – incomplete sets of these toys are very popular and still generate lots of fun..
  3. Save your batteries and remove them from toys and games before donating them – we will still test them before they are placed on sale.
  4. Everyone loves to hear stories behind pre loved teddy bears. They’ll always find a warm new home and someone to love them. 
  5. If you have collectable toys to donate, they can be valuable in any condition – so don’t leave them behind when you donate.   

To donate or shop with the British Heart Foundation this festive season and give a gift that keeps on living, visit bhf.org.uk/Christmas   

Hundreds of children in Scotland contact Childline for support with abuse and neglect

  • Childline has delivered more than 500 sessions with children from Scotland
  • New figures come as the counselling service prepares for the Christmas season, continuing to be a lifeline for vulnerable children and young people

Childline reveals that over the last year the service delivered 554 counselling sessions to children and young people from Scotland about sexual, physical, domestic, emotional abuse and neglect.

The service, which is run by the NSPCC, is also highlighting that of those counselling sessions in Scotland, 35 per cent (192) had a child say that Childline was the first place where they had spoken about their abuse.

Due to the confidential nature of the service, Childline only records the nation or region a child or young person is contacting them from if they volunteer that information. Last year, in more than a third of all sessions (4,906) the child did not disclose that information.

The NSPCC is releasing these figures as it launches its Christmas appeal.

Although Christmas comes with huge expectations of happiness, love and fun – for the more than half a million children experiencing abuse a year, it can also be an incredibly lonely and frightening time.

With schools closing their doors and children having reduced contact with wider support networks over the festive season, the charity knows that there will be many vulnerable children at home facing increased risks.

For those children and young people for whom Christmas means abuse, Childline is a lifeline. 

December last year was the second highest month in the year for children from across the UK reaching out for support on emotional abuse

A girl from Scotland, aged 15, who contacted Childline over the Christmas period last year said: “I’m struggling at the moment. I had an argument with my mum, who hasn’t been looking after me very well.

“She’s been drinking a lot lately – she’s currently asleep on the sofa. There are jobs that need doing. I do have other family, but I just don’t feel like I get the support I need. Social Services are involved, but I worry about where I would go if my mum got taken into rehab or hospital.”

A girl, aged 17, who contacted Childline over the Christmas period said: “My parents are drug addicts and don’t buy us any food. If they do get us any, it’s usually stolen from somewhere.

“They always ask me for my work money. I’d like advice on how to move out with my 12-year-old brother. I feel like other people don’t get it when I try to talk to them. I’ve been thinking about contacting Social Services, but I thought I would ask Childline for advice first.”

In its new TV advert, the NSPCC highlights that on average a child will call Childline every 45 seconds and that for these children, Christmas can be the worst time of year.

The ad is inspired by real calls from children to the NSPCC’s Childline service, which is open for children every day, including Christmas day. 

In the advert a girl named Kara is sat outside on a park bench in the dark speaking to a Childline a counsellor over the phone.

Shaun Friel, Childline director said: “Although Christmas should be a time of happiness and fun for all children, at Childline we know that sadly this is not the case and that for many, it is a time full of fear, isolation and increased risks.

“For lots of children, Childline is the only place they can turn to for help when they are trapped behind closed doors feeling scared and alone.

“In the run up to this festive season, it is essential that the service continues to be here as a lifeline for those children who are in desperate need of support from our trained counsellors and those in immediate danger.”

To enable the charity to be there for all children this Christmas, visit the NSPCC website to donate. Just £4 could help a counsellor answer a call this festive season.  

The Childline service is here for children every day, even on Christmas Day. Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When a child needs help and Christmas means abuse, Childline is a lifeline and it is vital that our counsellors are here and ready to listen and support children across the UK. 

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk 

Charity reveals 1 in 7 parents/carers won’t be buying presents for their children this Christmas

Research from national charity Family Action reveals the stark reality many families face this Christmas

Families across the UK are facing increasing financial hardship and new research from Family Action reveals that 1 in 7 parents/carers surveyed, said they won’t be able to afford to buy presents for their children this Christmas due to financial constraints.

In addition, a quarter of parents/carers surveyed said they won’t be able to afford to buy presents for their children’s grandparents, and almost a quarter of parents / carers surveyed said they won’t be able to afford to buy presents for their partner this Christmas, due to financial constraints.

  • 1 in 7 (14%) parents/carers surveyed said they won’t be able to afford to buy presents for their children this Christmas due to financial constraints.
  • A quarter (25%) of parents/carers surveyed said they won’t be able to afford to buy presents for their parents (their child/children’s grandparents), and almost a quarter (24%) of parents/carers surveyed said they won’t be able to afford to buy presents for their partner this Christmas due to financial constraints.
  • 1 in 5 (20%) parents/carers surveyed said they will go without heating their house this Christmas.
  • Over half (54%) of parents/carers surveyed agree* that Christmas is going to negatively affect their mental health this year because of worry about finances, with just over a third (34%) of parents/carers surveyed agree* that they will need to seek external support with finances.
  • Almost half of parents/carers (47%) surveyed agree* they expect to be in debt after Christmas 2023, while almost 3 in 10 (29%) parents/carers surveyed agree* they are still paying off debt from spending on Christmas 2022.

Family Action is launching its annual ‘Make Theirs Magic’ campaign to support families facing hard times this Christmas.

The charity provides emotional and practical support to over 60,000 families across the country and this Christmas it is looking once again to distribute thousands of toys to families through the Family Action Christmas Toy Appeal.

Mum, Hayley, said: “I’ve been handling Christmas a bit differently this year. I’ve even bought some presents in the January sales. I’ve got no idea how Christmas is going to look at the moment.

“I’ve cut back, but I don’t know where we’ll find the money and I don’t think we’re seeing family at Christmas. It’s still a special day, it’s a home day for us.”

David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action, said: “Every family deserves comfort and joy at Christmas, but with the high costs of food and utilities, many will find their holiday season stressful and difficult.

“We work with thousands of families across the country, and from the research findings and feedback from our frontline staff, we know only too well the challenges families are facing.

“It is a stark reality that one in seven parents won’t be able to afford gifts for their children this Christmas, and that for over half of parents/carers, they expect that their mental health and wellbeing will be negatively affected, due to the worry of financial constraints.”

Mum, Cathryne, said: “At the moment I can’t work so I could never afford the gifts my children were given by people donating to the Toy Appeal.

“It takes away the guilt I feel as no parent wants to be in that position.”

David Holmes CBE adds: “It does seem, this year, that Christmas magic is in short supply, but this is where Family Action comes in. This Christmas we’re offering a sleigh load of practical and emotional support to families through our FOOD clubs, financial grants, FamilyLine, and our Christmas Toy Appeal.

“By supporting our ‘Make Theirs Magic’ campaign, people can help with a special gift that could bring Christmas cheer to a child and their family. Together, we can keep the magic of Christmas alive. Thank you.”  

Visit Family Action Make Theirs Magic and keep the magic of Christmas alive by donating to Family Action.

Letters: Mary’s Meals Christmas

Dear Editor, 

The charm of the presents under our Christmas tree lies partly in their very different shapes and sizes. Perhaps the same could be said of our own families. None of them look the same.  

Take 12-year-old Hawa – she lives with her granny, an aunt and four cousins in Liberia. Often there is not enough food for her family to eat. 

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious food at school to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries, attracting them into the classroom where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty. 

More than two million children receive our life-changing meals every school day – including Hawa. 

I am pleased to tell you that, until 31 January 2022, donations made to our  Double The Love campaign will be matched, up to £1.6 million, by a generous group of supporters.  

Those children receiving Mary’s Meals might not have a pile of presents to unwrap on Christmas morning, but their dreams are alive and well, thanks to those who share our belief that every child should have enough to eat and go to school. 

You can learn more about our work by visiting marysmeals.org.uk 

Have a wonderful Christmas, 

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary’s Meals  

The Big Issue Shop Christmas Gifts

The Big Issue Shop has your Christmas shopping sorted with a plethora of eco-friendly and socially conscious gifts

The Big Issue Shop has released a whole host of uplifting and unique gifts ideas that make a social impact and are also ethical to boot. With prices ranging from £4 to £65 they suit any budget.

These are Christmas gifts that will make you feel even better about giving to your friends, family and loved ones this holiday season.

You can grab yourself a unique collection of wrapping papers, each design is a highly collectable, limited edition, so do get yours whilst you still can. Artists and designs range from Pure Evil with his highly collectable “Ideas Wheel for Lazy Designers” design and Charming Baker’s arresting “Christmasaurus Rex” design, to the notorious artistic duo, Jake and Dinos Chapman with their bold and bright design “D’You Wanna Be In My Gang”. Plus, many more!

Your creative friends might also like a Bowie and the Big Issue No.1, street art print for £20. And you would also be supporting South London-based artist, ANXTI.

Or maybe you are looking for some Christmassy essentials for yourself. These gorgeous Big Issue Christmas Baubles for just £8 are just the thing to get your house ready for the season. The Big Issue Christmas cards cost just £5 and feature six previous kids cover competition winners – and a 100 per cent of the proceeds go to support The Big Issue’s mission to dismantle poverty.

Friends that are animal mad? How about these adorable save the penguins bamboo socks for £8.99, and to top it off, 10 per cent of all profits will go to the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. Or how about Isobel’s dog design bowl for £25 from ARTHOUSE Unlimited: a collective of artists living with complex epilepsy and learning disabilities.

More of a cat person? Perhaps they would like The Big Issue’s special edition magazine paying tribute to the much-loved Big Issue Cat, Bob, for just £4.

Looking for some socially conscious stocking fillers? How about these Jollie Socks for £15, for every pair sold the company also donate a pair to a homeless person. Or this eco-friendly coffee husk travel cup for £10.99 a truly sustainable travel cup made with real coffee husks.

You can also get this William Morris-style cosmetic bag for £10. Not only is it beautiful but it comes from Studio 306 collective, based in Haringey, North London, which is a creative project set up to aid recovery from mental health issues.

Need a present for new parents? They will love this penguin t-shirt for £15.90 or this Love organic muslin baby shawl for £14.90, Both made by Babies With Love, who give all proceeds to support abandoned children around the world. Parents need a treat for themselves? The company also do this Love luxury scented candles for £24.90, which comes in an array of different scents.

If you want something a little more expensive look no further than these beautiful bags. Samantha Renke’s inclusive handbag for £40 comes from disability campaigner Samantha Renke and is designed with the needs of disabled people in mind. It is functional and stylish for everyone.

Or how about this Compact messenger bag for £65. It comes from Dece, a social enterprise with two small production hubs in Northwest Romania where they work to educate, employ and empower families living in real poverty. 

You can also get your hands on this limited edition bespoke gift hamper for £65, created by The Big Issue in collaboration with Social Stories Club. It is packed full of treats made by social ventures, this hamper would make the perfect gift for the festive season.

As a non-profit, every penny we make goes back into the organisation. With a gift subscription, not only will your friend receive an award-winning magazine each week, but you’re also contributing to The Big Issue’s fight to dismantle poverty – from employing our frontline staff, who provide vendors with vital support, to enabling us to campaign for policy change on a national level … each subscription really does make a difference. Buy a gift subscription here –  https://bigissue.com/gift/

To support The Big Issue’s Christmas appeal “The Big Wish”, you can buy a copy of the magazine or a subscription from your local vendor so they receive 50% of the profits. 

Alternatively, you can make a donation to The Big Issue Foundation. Visit bigissue.com/bigwish.

Letters: RNIB Christmas appeal

Dear Editor,

2020 has been challenging and, although many people like to give generously to charity at Christmas, it may be difficult to make a donation this year.

Rather than gifting money, this Christmas you can help support the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) by collecting and donating used stamps from cards and parcels you may receive.

Your stamps will be recycled and turned into vital funds that will help RNIB make Christmas as open and inclusive as possible for children with vision impairment. By supporting RNIB with your stamps, you can help make good things happen for these children, like ensuring they receive a letter from Santa in a format they can read.

To get involved and receive a pre-paid envelope for your stamps, visit www.rnib.org.uk/stamps or call 0303 123 9999.

After this all you need to do is send your stamps using RNIB’s freepost envelopes, and they’ll take care of the rest. It really is that simple!

Show your support for RNIB this Christmas and New Year by collecting stamps and help make life better for blind and partially sighted people.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Vanessa Feltz

Hundreds of child cruelty and neglect offences recorded by Police Scotland every year

672 concerns of adults neglecting, mistreating or assaulting children in Scotland in 2019/20

The NSPCC has launched its Here for Children Christmas Appeal and a new TV ad to raise awareness of abuse and neglect this Christmas

More than 600 concerns of child cruelty and neglect offences were recorded by Police Scotland last year, the NSPCC reports as it warns that some children may be at risk of abuse this Christmas.

The charity is today releasing a new analysis of police data for the whole of the UK, which reveals that there were 23,529 offences recorded by forces in 2019/20.

Although there are significant variations in numbers between different regions and nations, the analysis finds that overall in the UK there has been 53% rise since 2016/17. However, in Scotland the annual number of offences has varied considerably over these four years, between 640 and 818, with last year’s figure totalling 672.

While not every police-recorded offence leads to a prosecution or child protection outcome, each represents a significant concern raised to the police about a child.

The NSPCC has issued the findings as part of a warning that children may be at risk of abuse this Christmas and that everyone needs to play their part in keeping young people safe.

To raise awareness of child neglect and abuse this Christmas, the NSPCC has launched its Here for Children Christmas Appeal. The charity has also produced a new TV appeal which depicts some of the heart-breaking abuse contacts the NSPCC-run service Childline expects to take in the Christmas holidays.  

Over the last six months the NSPCC has been looking closely at the impact of lockdown – and its frontline teams are concerned that increased vulnerability, the challenges of safeguarding remotely and wider pressures on families may have increased the risks of abuse and neglect.

During the spring lockdown, an average of 50 children a day, across the UK, turned to Childline after suffering abuse, with counselling sessions about this issue increasing by 22% compared with pre-lockdown levels.

*A 14-year-old girl from Scotland told a Childline counsellor: “I’m feeling so stressed and upset at home right now. My dad abuses me a lot by making me starve. I literally have to beg for things to eat, and if I do get food it’s the tiniest bits. I feel hungry a lot but then it just turns into me feeling sick. I just wanted someone to talk to so I came here.”

*A 15-year-old girl from Scotland who contacted Childline said: “My parents don’t look after me and my siblings properly. The house is very dirty and my bedroom is damp and mouldy. The house is constantly cold as there is no heating and no hot water. Since lockdown, I’ve been finding it really hard to cope at home, I miss being at school.”

As part of its new appeal, the charity is calling on the public to donate £20 to the NSPCC so that services like Childline can be here for children this Christmas.

Everyone has a role to play in keeping children safe. The charity is reminding adults that if they have concerns about a child’s welfare they can call the NSPCC helpline.

NSPCC Scotland is also urging the Scottish Government to ensure that a comprehensive recovery plan is put in place and to deliver the long-term investment needed to provide high quality preventative and therapeutic services for children and support for families in every part of the country.

Matt Forde, head of service at NSPCC Scotland, said: “Every year there are children in Scotland experiencing pain and suffering at the hands of those who are supposed to care for them.

“For those children whose homes are not always a safe place, this year will have been extremely difficult. Their usual support networks and services will have been greatly reduced and many will have felt trapped and isolated.

“So, this year it is even more essential that children have a place where they can seek help and support. Our Childline service will be running every day over the Christmas holidays, but we need the public’s support so we can ensure vulnerable children are heard.”

Spotting the signs of abuse

The NSPCC is encouraging the public to look out for signs of abuse and speak up if they are concerned about a child. Signs of abuse and neglect to look out for can include:

  • Untreated injuries, medical and dental issues
  • Repeated accidental injuries caused by lack of supervision
  • Recurring illnesses or infections
  • Faltering weight or growth, and not reaching developmental milestones
  • Poor language, communication or social skills
  • Have unwashed clothes
  • Have inadequate clothing, like not having a winter coat
  • Living in an unsuitable home environment – for example without adequate heating, or dog mess being left
  • Left alone for a long time
  • Taking on the role of carer for other family members

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk