Childline: Encourage children suffering neglect or abuse to speak up and seek support whenever they need it
Our Childline counsellors are here to support children across the UK, but our colleagues on the NSPCC Helpline are also available to help adults with any concerns they have about children.
Last year the NSPCC Helpline received 4,515 contacts from community members and neighbours who were worried about child neglect. Concerns included worries about children being left alone, adults misusing substances and alcohol, not meeting a child’s basic care needs, their living environments and emotional neglect.
Communities play a vital part in safeguarding young people, and sometimes, a neighbour can be the first to spot early signs of neglect. So while making that call is not easy, taking the step to raise concerns can help them get support sooner.
If families do not receive the support they need early enough, children can face significant risks. With neglect, a child’s physical and mental health can be affected, their development could be hindered, and their ability to form secure relationships could be disrupted.
It takes a village to raise a child, and only when we all work together can we support a young person in their time of need, so we would encourage anyone with concerns about child neglect to contact the NSPCC Helpline for further support.
Neglect isn’t always obvious to spot and speaking up might feel hard, but it can be the turning point for a child in danger.
It’s good to know that communities across the region and the UK are stepping up to protect children from neglect and turning to our Helpline for support and helping to prevent children in need from slipping through the cracks.
Our colleagues in the NSPCC are calling on the Government to commit to a national neglect strategy and help children experiencing neglect, but until they do, anyone with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected].
It’s also important to encourage children to speak up and seek support whenever they need it. Sometimes, just having someone listen to them can be help enough, and our counsellors are available around the clock to offer support to young people.