Looking after a child can be a challenge for all parents at times but even more so in the current situation with measures put in place to contain the Coronavirus.
The lack of respite from children’s needs or relationship strains will be taking their toll on many parents; some will have lost their jobs and be experiencing financial difficulties and there will be those who have suffered illness and bereavement.
These pressures and anxieties will be intensified by the fact that families are having to cope without access to their usual support networks.
This month, as we mark Father’s Day and International Father’s Mental Health Day, we want to send a message to dads that there is help out there and, if you are finding things difficult or you feel you are struggling to cope, it is so important that you reach out for support. Looking after your mental health is vital for your own wellbeing, as well as your child’s.
Earlier this year, NSPCC Scotland teamed up with the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee to launch the All of Us campaign to let families know where and how they can get advice and support.
The different organisations involved in the campaign are working together to gain insight into how they can best support families and protect children across Edinburgh.
Our NSPCC Helpline counsellors are here for fathers whatever their worry. For parenting advice and support contact the helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or on 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm.
New survey reveals public concerns about child abuse during crisis but 20% of adults in Scotland are unsure where to go for advice about suspected incidents
Survivors speak out to urge anyone with worries about a child’s welfare to contact the NSPCC’s Helpline
One in five adults in Scotland are unsure where to seek help about suspected child abuse despite worries about the heightened risks to young people during the lockdown.
The NSPCC surveyed over 2,000 adults in Britain, which included 179 in Scotland, and found that north of the border 20% were not confident they would know where to get advice if they thought a child or young person was being abused or neglected.
The findings also revealed that more adults in Scotland were worried about the impact of the lockdown on children suffering domestic abuse than any other type of harm, with 81% reporting they were ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ concerned, compared to 79% for emotional abuse and 77% for neglect.
There is growing concern for the safety of vulnerable children during the coronavirus crisis, particularly as teachers and social workers have limited access to them with most not taking up the places at school allocated to them.
The Scottish Government’s update last month on supporting vulnerable children during the pandemic reported a reduction in child protection and domestic abuse referrals in Scotland.
That is why the NSPCC has launched a nationwide campaign, backed by survivors and £1.6million of UK Government funding, to ensure more people know they can raise concerns about child safety and wellbeing to its Helpline. People can also contact the police or their local social work department.
Jess, 29, was emotionally abused by her father who beat her mother throughout her childhood. He was later jailed for an attack on his new partner after Jess and her mother gave evidence against him in court:
“Our lives could have been completely changed. If there had been an intervention earlier on, then we perhaps would have been able to escape sooner. He may not have gone on to carry out the same abuse on his next partner and her son.
“Even if your concern turns out to be something that was misheard or misinterpreted, make the call because it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. One phone call and you have the potential to change a child’s life, to save them.”
Ian, 51, was aged 6 when his father returned from hospital after suffering a heart attack and started becoming violent towards Ian’s mum and later Ian as well:
“Please report anything that’s wrong, or if you suspect someone else might be going through this, then make sure that’s reported also. The long-term effects are lifelong potentially.
I still have regular nightmares now, I always will, but by dealing with the situation as soon as it happens a victim gets that support and help much quicker and a perpetrator is dealt with much sooner. Although I will live with this forever, we can easily prevent someone else from having to.”
Kam Thandi, Head of NSPCC Helpline, said: “It is terrible to think that cases of child abuse and neglect may be going unreported because people don’t know where to go to for help and advice.
“At the moment, we’re increasingly reliant on the public to come forward with their concerns and if reports drop we fear abusers will have free reign to harm children, both physically and emotionally.
“Even if you are not 100% sure, we urge any adult who is worried for the safety or wellbeing of a child to contact our helpline. We can answer any questions and concerns, provide reassurance or importantly take quick action if we feel a child is in danger.”
Spotting the signs of abuse or neglect may be more difficult in the present climate, but indicators can include:
aggressive or repeated shouting
hearing hitting or things being broken
children crying for long periods of time
very young children left alone or are outdoors by themselves
children looking dirty or not changing their clothes
children being withdrawn or anxious.
To help workers who regularly visit homes, such as postal workers and delivery drivers, spot safeguarding concerns the NSPCC has made a 15-minute safeguarding course free.
The NSPCC Helpline is available for advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or via help@nspcc.org.uk. The trained helpline staff can offer advice and make informed decisions about whether further support is potentially needed for a child and their family.
If you suspect a child or young person is in immediate danger call the police immediately on 999. Alternatively, contact the children’s social care team at your local council.
As Scottish Government extends lockdown, Childline reveals how the past three weeks have affected children
NSPCC launches ‘We’re still here for children’ – an emergency appeal to raise vital funds to support children and families across the UK
Childline has revealed it has seen almost 400 children in Scotland getting in touch due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), with about three quarters of the contacts in the latter three weeks.
The 390 counselling sessions have been held between the end of January, when the first cases of coronavirus were identified in the UK, and April 8. A large proportion of the sessions have taken place since the Scottish Government announced social distancing rules, schools’ shutdown and the lockdown in close succession.
Since the end of January, there have been 2,200 counselling sessions with children across the UK about the issue, with 1,700 contacts since measures were announced.
In more than half of the contacts, Children talked about concerns over their mental or emotional health.
Despite Childline having to close the night service for the first time and having a 30% drop in volunteer hours, due to counsellors having to self-isolate, it’s battling to still be there for children across the UK.
Kat McMahon, a volunteer counsellor at Glasgow’s Childline base, said: “At the moment, young people are contacting us with the same kinds of concerns as they usually do, such as family arguments, sexual abuse and suicidal thoughts but everything seems amplified.
“On top of their existing anxieties about what it is happening in their lives, they are now struggling with the anxiety around the lockdown and Covid. Some have fears about their families catching the virus and many are struggling being away from school and their friends.
“For children living in homes where physical, emotional or sexual abuse is happening – there is now no escape for them. We hear from some young people who say they feel trapped because they cannot leave the house.”
Dave Black, a volunteer counsellor at Aberdeen’s Childline base, said: “At the moment, young people are not getting their usual support in the community, with the closure of many public services, and we are hearing how this is impacting on them and causing distress.
“This situation is challenging for anyone but if you are already struggling it can be extremely difficult. Children are saying they are missing school – for some, school is their safe place and where they get support and fed.
“Some of these young people don’t have anyone to talk to and Childline is absolutely critical for them to be able to share and get some support.”
The NSPCC, which runs Childline, is growing increasingly concerned about the number of children who will experience abuse or neglect due to the impact of Coronavirus.
During the past week Childline has delivered 363 counselling sessions across the UK where children have experienced physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect – up nearly a fifth from the week before. Counselling sessions about physical and emotional abuse increased by 36% and 31% respectively during this time.
One 15-year-old girl told Childline: “I am not happy at home. My parents are physically abusing me – it’s happening quite often now since schools closed and I’m really scared.
“They hit me and often it leaves me with bruises. I really want to get out of the house and be somewhere safe and happy. I’m scared that my parents will get angry and hurt me more if I tell someone.”
In the past few weeks Childline has heard from children whose parents have lost their jobs and are under growing financial pressure, as well as from young carers struggling to look after their siblings whilst their parents fall sick with Coronavirus symptoms. Childline is also hearing from children who have had suicidal thoughts and talk about feeling trapped and isolated.
To continue to support children during this challenging period, and to adapt to the ever-changing situation, the NSPCC has launched its emergency appeal ‘We’re still here for children’.
The NSPCC is urging the public to visit its website and donate £10 to help fund vital services like Childline, so the charity can continue to answer calls and be here for the young people who desperately need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.
To support the appeal, the NSPCC has launched a new TV ad which features a Childline counsellor talking after a shift about the vital importance of the service.
Peter Wanless, CEO of NSPCC, said: “At this uncertain time when children’s lives have changed so dramatically the NSPCC needs to be there as a reassuring voice for those worried about their children and for the most vulnerable in our society.
“Sadly, we know that for many children, home isn’t a safe place and they need our Childline counsellors more than ever. This is the greatest challenge we’ve faced in decades and we are calling on the support of the public to help us ensure we can still be here for children.”
Dame Esther Rantzen, Founder of Childline, said: “The world is an unfamiliar and very frightening place for thousands of children across the UK at the moment.
“We know that school no longer provides the sanctuary it once did and many young people are having to face unprecedented challenges at home without the vital support networks that normally surround them. Childline is more crucial than ever as a safe way children can reach out for help. We really are, as one volunteer counsellor told me, the fourth emergency service.
“Now more than ever we must continue to be there for the young people who desperately need us, no matter what. We don’t know what other challenges lie ahead, but we want to be prepared to weather any storm so that we can be there for children. That is why we are urging the public to get behind our very important emergency appeal and donate £10 so that we can provide essential support.”
Police Scotland has launched its latest campaign targeting sexual predators who groom and abuse children online.
With lockdown in place across Scotland, people are now at home for long periods of time, prompting more internet use and increasing the opportunity for predators to target children online.
The new #GetHelpOrGetCaught campaign proactively targets men who are either already offending or at risk of offending. It features a film which challenges behaviour and asks the question: if you wouldn’t do it in the real world, why groom and abuse children in the online world?
Launching the campaign, Assistant Chief Constable Duncan Sloan, lead for Major Crime and Public Protection, Police Scotland, said: “Protecting children from abuse online is one of our top priorities. But we are now living through a period of heightened risk, as people follow guidance and practice social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We are acutely aware that people are at home, that they have more time to access the internet and that the potential risk of online child abuse is, therefore, extremely high. This makes our current campaign even more relevant.
“Online child sexual abuse is not virtual, its repercussions are real. Grooming, indecent communication and causing children to participate in sexual activity, are all serious criminal offences.
“Offenders will be identified and arrested and they will face the consequences of their actions: not just a conviction but the potential loss of family, reputation and work/livelihood.“Abusers are responsible for their actions, it is up to them to take action and stop, to get help or get caught.”
Police Scotland consulted with partners on the campaign including Stop It Now! Scotland.
Stuart Allardyce, Director of Stop It Now, Scotland, said: “Actions that would not be acceptable in real life, are not acceptable online. There are no grey areas. Whether it is sending sexualised messages or images to young people, trying to get them to send images to you, or trying to meet up for sexual purposes – all of these things are illegal and wrong.
“Stop It Now! Scotland provides help to people who are worried about their sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviours towards children. We work with men who have committed online offences and many of them tell us that they knew what they were doing was wrong – but that they didn’t know how to stop.
“If you are already talking to children or young people online, asking for images or seeking to meet them, or are feeling the urge to do so, please reach out to us for confidential and anonymous help. It is not only victims of the crime that suffer. Families of groomers are often devastated by the actions of their loved ones and this can have a life changing impact.
“We know that at the current time, calling our helpline on 0808 1000 900 can be difficult given the current COVID-19 restrictions but confidential and anonymous help is only a phone call away.”
Matt Forde, national head of service for NSPCC Scotland, said: “Each year hundreds of crimes of online child sexual abuse are recorded by police in Scotland, and we are deeply concerned that offenders are exploiting the conditions created by this current public health crisis, with children spending more time online.
“Police Scotland has – now even more so than ever – rightly identified tackling these crimes as a priority, through raising awareness of the issue and sending a direct and robust message to offenders. However, law enforcement can in no way win this fight alone – tech firms must urgently make protecting children a task of utmost importance, by identifying and disrupting offenders on their sites.
“It is also extremely important that parents have regular conversations with their children about their online activities and try to make them feel comfortable to talk about anything that concerns them.”
Internet grooming and online child sexual abuse remains a major threat across the UK. Offences continue to rise with 1694 recorded in Scotland between April 2019 and February 2020, compared to 1573 over the same period for 2018/19.
The #GetHelpOrGetCaught campaign, which cost £55k, will run across various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and YouTube, for an initial four week period.
Volunteers and staff at NSPCC Scotland received a special delivery when the team from Amazon’s delivery station in Bathgate stopped by with a £1,000 donation.
The Bathgate team also held a collection at the delivery station and raised a further £1,000 for the charity.
The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse. The charity offers free, confidential advice and support to children and young people through its Childline service, visits primary schools across the country to deliver ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ assemblies and workshops and works directly with families in local communities through its specialist teams.
NSPCC Scotland works specifically with local services and communities and attempts to influence national policy developments and political processes to protect the future of Scotland’s children.
The charity received the donation as part of the ‘Amazon In The Community’ programme, where the company supports the communities around its operating locations across the UK.
The donation will enable NSPCC Scotland to answer 500 more calls to Childline.
To celebrate the donation, members of Amazon’s Bathgate Delivery Station team visited the charity’s Glasgow headquarters.
Amazon’s Bathgate Delivery Station Manager, Scott Cartwright, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support NSPCC Scotland with this donation.
“The charity does such important work in our local area and we wanted to recognise that by offering our support. We had a great time meeting with the team in Glasgow to hear more about their efforts to stop child abuse for good.”
Jen Lindsay, from NSPCC Scotland, said: “On behalf of myself and NSPCC Scotland I want to say a big thank you to Scott and the Amazon team.
“The NSPCC receives 90% of its funding from supporters, so this donation will go a long way to help us make sure we can keep every child who needs us safe. We loved having the team down to meet us and hope that they know what a difference this donation will make in our community.”
Amazon Logistics is helping independent local delivery companies to grow their businesses and adds capacity and flexibility to Amazon’s delivery network to meet increasing customer demand.
Amazon has created more than 75 permanent jobs at the delivery station in Bathgate and works with around 15 independent delivery companies with hundreds of drivers to provide the fast and reliable delivery Amazon customers love and trust. Packages are shipped to the delivery station from Amazon fulfilment and sortation centres and loaded onto vehicles to get delivered to customers.
More than a quarter of children and young people are worried about cyber-bullying, a survey reveals – topping the list of online fears
89% also think talking to parents would help keep them stay safe online, but parents reported that only 35% had done so in the last 12 months.
Survey of more than 4,000 children and young people and 4,000 parents and carers conducted on behalf of O2 and NSPCC ahead of Safer Internet Day
Being cyber-bullied is children’s greatest fear when they go online, according to a major survey conducted on behalf of O2 and the NSPCC ahead of Safer Internet Day (Tuesday 11 February).
When questioned, more than a quarter of children (27%) said bullying or someone being unkind to them was what worried them the most when using the internet.
The survey of more than 4,000 young people also revealed being contacted by someone they don’t know was the second biggest online concern (16% of respondents).
Speaking to parents or carers is overwhelmingly seen by children (89%) as the thing to do to help them stay safe online, but parents reported only 35% had raised internet safety with them in the past 12 months.
The survey of more than 4,000 parents and carers also revealed that 92% felt they knew how to advise their child on staying safe online, but less than half (42%) had agreed guidelines on what they do when using the internet.
To mark Safer Internet Day, O2 and the NSPCC have created a new online family agreement for parents and children to fill-in and sign together to help encourage more regular conversations about internet safety.
The agreement provides families with the opportunity to make a joint pledge on things both parents and children will do when online.
O2 and the NSPCC also offer free online resources in the form of Net Aware, a website which explains the social networks, apps or games that children are using most frequently.
Laura Randall, Associate Head of Child Safety Online and Innovation at the NSPCC, said: “Children and young people are becoming increasingly aware of the risks they face when going online and the vital role their parents or carers can play in ensuring they stay safe.
“As a result, parents and carers need to take the initiative and set up regular conversations with their child about their online life, with our family agreement being a great way to kick things off.
“To ensure they are as well informed as possible parents and carers can also access free tools like Net Aware, where they can learn about the latest games, apps and social networks their children are using.”
Nicola Green, Corporate Affairs Director at O2 said: “The digital world is an amazing place but it’s important that as parents we have regular conversations with our children so they’re aware how to safely navigate any potential dangers online.
“As a mum, I know it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, which is why for Safer Internet Day this year we’ve created a family agreement, available in-store and to download online for free, as a handy tool for parents to explore what their children like doing online and agree to set some guidelines.”
As well as the family agreement, the partnership have developed a booklet offering the latest practical and simple tips on the risks children might face when using the internet, and advice about what parents can do to keep their child safe.
The booklet is now available in more than 450 O2 stores nationwide.
Barratt Homes, the UK’s largest builder has donated £3,000 to three charities across Edinburgh and the Lothians, helping them with a number of projects in 2020.
A £1,000 donation was made to Libertus Services, Edinburgh North West Food Project and NSPCC Scotland as part of the Barratt Homes Community Fund.
The Barratt Homes Community Fund pledges £1,000 every month to a charity or organisation which supports local people across Edinburgh, The Lothians and Fife. Charities are nominated and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.
The series of donations follows on from a successful year of volunteering by Barratt Homes. Throughout 2019 employees from across the business completed a grand total of 88 days volunteering for different charities in the region including CHAS, Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home and RSPB.
Part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks, The Edinburgh North West Food Project provides emergency food parcels to people living in food poverty. The North-West Edinburgh branch was opened in 2012, based out of its founder’s garage, with only a handful of volunteers, and now has seven foodbanks across Edinburgh with over 190 dedicated volunteers, working with over 230 support agencies.
Ryan Strachan, operations manager, Edinburgh North West Food Project commented: “We can’t thank Barratt enough for their kind donation. Each box we issue costs roughly £5 and we are roughly putting out 1,000 boxes per month.
“The donation will be used towards these boxes and help cover things like stock crates, wheels to move stock around the warehouse, vans plus their upkeep, rent and maintenance of warehouse, as well as electricity and stationery.”
The NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe assemblies help children to recognise different types of abuse and to feel confident about speaking out to a trusted adult.
NSPCC Scotland began delivering the service to primary schools in Scotland in 2012, and since then its staff and team of dedicated volunteers have spoken to tens of thousands of schoolchildren the length and breadth of the country.
Katie Bruce, corporate partnerships manager for NSPCC Scotland said: “We’re really grateful for the donation and without Barratt Homes’ support, and other organisations like them giving back to their community, we wouldn’t be able to deliver programmes like ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ across the East of Scotland.
“Through their donation, Barratt Homes has ensured that NSPCC Scotland will visit another two primary schools in the Lothians, helping children understand about their right to be protected from abuse and neglect and how they should speak to a trusted adult when something worries or upsets them.”
Libertus Services is an Edinburgh-based charity dedicated to supporting people to live independently.
Providing a registered Day Care service to local older people alongside a plethora of recreational, educational, cultural and social projects, the charity is dedicated to empowering its members to make informed choices and to engage with activities which offer a selection of physical activity, reminiscence, games and art as therapy.
Dan Fuller, positive futures project coordinator, Libertus said: “We’re really thankful for Barratt’s donation, which will help support our Positive Futures project. Positive Futures supports people over the age of 50 across Edinburgh to develop and run weekly activity groups in community based settings.
“The donation will specifically help with a number of supplies, from stationery for the craft workshops to equipment for our gym and pilates classes. With this project we aim to reduce social isolation by offering local people opportunities to get involved, meet new people, develop and use their skills.”
Anne Ross, Director for Barratt Scotland East said: “All three charities provide an invaluable service across Scotland for children, those in food poverty and the elderly.
“At Barratt East Scotland we are committed to supporting the communities we serve, and through this fund and our volunteering days, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to the services that make a positive impact on so many lives.”
Last year £1.2 million was donated across Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes in the UK.
MSPs have the chance to make history today by voting in favour of Scotland becoming the first country in the UK to end the physical punishment of children when Green MSP John Finnie’s Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill will be voted on its third stage in parliament.Continue reading Scotland set to make it a criminal offence for parents to smack their children
