Press Releases
15 January 2010
Fashion designer Jeff Banks today (15 January) called on the nation to join the Great British Clothes Clearout and donate unwanted clothes to raise £2m for the NSPCC.
Jeff Banks cleared out his own warehouse for the launch, donating over 1,000 garments from his many design collections.

The NSPCC aims to collect more than five million bags of second hand clothing by 2012 in partnership with clothing collection agent Clothes Aid.
Jeff Banks said: “I think clothes are there to be worn, not be hidden away in your wardrobe! So I want everyone to join the NSPCC’s Great British Clothes Clearout to help prevent cruelty to children.
“Everyone has a few fashion horrors hidden away at home. For me it’s my suits. The ones from the 80s are probably back in fashion! So I’m having my own Clothes Clearout for the NSPCC – I hope everyone will join me and cast off those terrifying textiles!”

Donations of good quality used clothing can be made through convenient house to house collections. Donators should look out for NSPCC branded bags posted in their letterboxes with a printed Clothes Aid collection date.

Businesses and other organisations can also request a one-stop collection service from Clothes Aid for donations of 200 bags or more – raising even more money for the NSPCC. Clothes Aid has guaranteed to raise a minimum of £525,000 in the year of its partnership with the NSPCC.

NSPCC head of corporate partnerships Tracy Griffin said: “We know many people find it hard to give financially during this challenging economic climate. So giving unwanted clothes, shoes, or other textiles is a great alternative way for people to support the NSPCC.”

“Join in the NSPCC Great British Clothes Clearout and start the new decade with only the clothes you love to wear in your wardrobe!”
Around two million tonnes of textiles are purchased in the UK every year, of which 60 percent ends up as waste. Clothes Aid extends lifespan of garments by diverting them from landfill to be sold in fashion-hungry European accession countries.

The NSPCC relies on the generosity of the general public for more than 85 percent of the funds it needs to raise each year. All the money raised through the Clothes Aid partnership will go towards the NSPCC’s vital work in helping to end cruelty to children.

More information is available at www.nspcc.org.uk/greatbritishclothesclearout
More information about Clothes Aid and arranging a one stop bespoke collection at www.clothesaid.co.uk

NSPCC media office on 0207 825 2516. Out of hours mobile 07976 206 625.
Clothes Aid press office on 0207 288 8539

Notes to editors:
1. Clothes Aid is the licensed clothing collection agent for the NSPCC in England, Wales, and Scotland. In Northern Ireland, Clothing Collections International (CCI) are organising clothes collections to raise funds for ChildLine.
2. NSPCC branded collection bags will be posted through letterboxes, stating the collection date. Filled bags should be left outside in clear view of the road on the morning the specified date, to avoid being missed by Clothes Aid collectors.
3. The NSPCC will receive £75 per tonne from house to house clothing collections, and £300 per tonne of clothing donated via one-stop collections organised by NSPCC supporters. A tonne of clothing is equivalent to around 200 bags.
4. Figures based on each bag collected averaging at 5kg, with one tonne of clothing equalling approx 200 bags, Clothes Aid estimate they need to collect 29,500 tonnes or 5,900,000 bags to meet the £2.3m target. Should clothing collections not generate the minimum guaranteed income, Clothes Aid will make up the balance for the NSPCC.
5. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) currently states that textile waste is the fastest growing type of household waste in the UK. Around 2 million tonnes of waste is bought in the UK every year, with over 60% ending up in landfill. Source: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/products/roadmaps/clothing.htm�
6. About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC’s vision is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. The NSPCC runs projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people. The NSPCC helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.
7. Clothes Aid is one of the UK’s leading licensed clothing collection agents, conducting house to house collections, and bespoke one stop collections, of used clothing to raise money for its partner charities. Clothes Aid raises funds for a number of national and regional charities including, Make A Wish Foundation UK, Noah’s Ark Appeal, Papworth Hospital, Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice. Clothes Aid extends the end of life use of garments by diverting them from landfill, as recommended by the Government’s road map on clothing. House to house clothing donations are then sold in fashion-hungry European accession countries.

Tags: Charities, Jeff Banks, NSPCC

Do more. Do it faster. Meet The iPhone 3GS. With new features like a remarkable video camera, Voice Control and more, it’s the best iPhone yet. With 32GB, there’s also room for your favourite music and movies.

Thats right people, Vodafone have finaly released the iPhone to their customers. There are currently 5 models available;

• The Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB White
• The Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB Black
• The Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB White
• The Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB Black
• The Apple iPhone 3G.

With prices starting from £30 per month and loads of contracts to choose from weather you are ready for an upgrade or just thinking about a change there is sure to be something to suit your individual needs

Chech out all the latest deals now

Tags: Apple, Apple iPhone 3G, Apple iPhone 3GS, Compare Mobile Phones, Gifts, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!), Home Electricals and Computers, iPhone, Mobile Phone, Vodafone

Dream auction 2 launched today, which means that for the next 12 days you can bid online for a fantastic array of items, with proceeds going to the Childs Voice Appeal.

From Christmas baubles to Xboxes; holidays to horse training; opportunities to meet our celebrity endorsers Ant and Dec, Peter Andre, Deborah Meadon and Jodie Kidd, and the ultimate invitation to Vanity Fair’s Oscar party, there is bound to be something for everyone.

There are a few ways that you can help to spread the word:

• Check out the site, www.dreamauction2.co.uk and get bidding today! Tell your friends and family too.
• Update your Facebook status with “I’m bidding now at dreamauction2.co.uk”

·  Ask friends and family to post web banners on their websites – please contact Fundraising Manager Debbie Herald for these.

Happy bidding!

Tags: Ant and Dec, Deborah Meadon, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!), Jodie Kidd, NSPCC, Peter Andre

Last month Yamaha Music Schools announced they would support ChildLine through 90 of their schools across the UK. Schools in Birmingham and Derby have wasted no time, already raising £1,000 each from their recent Christmas concerts.

Each music school will encourage pupils to raise funds from concerts, challenges and events, with Yamaha also promoting a first lesson free campaign for new students for a suggested donation of £2 to ChildLine. Musician supporters and ambassadors backing the scheme include chart-topping Paolo Nutini, Joe Bonamassa and The Enemy’s Tom Clarke.

They are joined by Jazz-ace Jamie Cullum, Jools Holland, Paul Carrack and drummers Troy Miller, who plays with Amy Winehouse, Skunk Anansie’s Mark Richardson and Andrew Small who plays with Massive Attack and Kylie Minogue.

Head of Yamaha Music Schools Nigel Burrows said: “This is a fantastic campaign combining free music making opportunities with a substantial fundraising effort for ChildLine. We have been inspired by the level of support we have received from our artist friends who will ensure that we get maximum awareness and impact, leading to more lessons and cash for ChildLine. “Our aim is to raise about £60,000 and then ensure that the programme takes place annually.”

for more info http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/charities/nspcc.htm

Tags: Amy Winehouse, Andrew Small, ChildLine, Jamie Cullum, Jools Holland, Kylie Minogue, Mark Richardson, Massive Attack, Music Schools, NSPCC, Paul Carrack, Schools, Skunk Anansie, Troy Miller, Yamaha, Yamaha Music, Yamaha Music Schools

A new NSPCC report today (Mon 27 July) shows ChildLine counselled a record 58,311 boys last year, more than double the number five years ago.

The report – What Boys Talk About to ChildLine – found bullying was the top problem, with 12,568 boys calling about it in 2007/08. The report also reveals that 6,403 boys rang about physical abuse and 4,780 about sexual abuse with 1,803 saying they had been raped.
Other key findings show:

Those calling ChildLine about feeling lonely, sad and isolated has increased five-fold from 334 five years ago to 1,817.
Over 6000 rang about serious emotional stress within the family.
The number calling about sexuality has increased more than three fold from five years ago to 3,510.
There were 5,362 calls concerning the facts of life (1) – also three times the figure five years ago.
Those boys who called ChildLine about sexual or physical abuse most commonly named a parent as the perpetrator (2) .

ChildLine gets more calls from girls but the trend is beginning to change with one in three now coming from boys compared with just 20 per cent five years ago. This improvement is to be welcomed but more needs to be done.

One 14- year -old boy who called said: “My dad hits me with a belt as punishment. This happens once or twice a month and leaves marks for days.”

And a 17- year- old told ChildLine: “I was sexually abused by a relative when I was a child. I have very vivid memories of being raped. I still feel angry that it ever happened.”

Another boy aged 15 explained to counsellors: “Boys at school strangle, punch and kick me, I feel lonely and angry with the teachers who seem to do nothing and I feel suicidal. I’ve never told anyone before.”

Head of ChildLine Sue Minto said: “Desperate boys call ChildLine because they feel they have no one to turn to. It’s heartbreaking to hear their stories of rape and violent beatings, often by their parents. They sometimes suffer in silence for months before they tell anyone. By the time they call us they can be suicidal

“There’s still the stigma that boys don’t cry but it may be there’s no longer so much pressure to be macho. Our counsellors are trained to help boys express their emotions – we want to encourage more of them to speak out about their abuse.”

ChildLine counsellor Alex Gray said: “Sometimes, you have to work hard to get boys to talk about what’s really troubling them. But once they do they’re surprised that someone’s there listening to them.”

Sue Minto added: “Not all the boys tell us whether they have spoken out about their problems before. But for nearly half of those who did it was the first time they were speaking out. We strongly urge boys who are struggling with their problems to call us on 0800 1111.

“Since ChildLine joined with the NSPCC in 2006 the helpline has been expanded and answers more calls from children and young people than ever before. Even so ChildLine is still unable to answer one in three calls but boys and girls need us more than ever and we urgently need public support to help save young lives and to be there for more children.”

In response, the NSPCC is urgently calling on the public to donate to its Child’s Voice Appeal. The charity needs to raise an extra £50 million over the next three years, in addition to £30 million already pledged by the UK Government so ChildLine can try to answer every call for help.

Tags: Charities, Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, ChildLine, Gifts, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!)

A huge shortfall in therapy is leaving thousands of sexually abused children struggling to recover from their ordeal, a new NSPCC report reveals.

Each year at least 55,000 sex abuse victims face behavioural and mental health problems because of a post-code lottery in therapeutic services.

There is only one support programme for every 25,000 children living in the UK and many areas provide no therapeutic provision for sexually abused children at all.

The 508 services identified in the report are so over-stretched that many are being forced to close their books. And those children and teenagers who get treatment often have to wait between three months and a year for this to begin.

The report* reveals that teenagers are especially likely to miss out on therapy because they are less able to access services for adults and may be considered too old to get support on a child protection plan.

Eleven percent of young adults report experiences of physical sexual abuse during their childhoods (1). The report’s authors say the number of treatment spaces would have to grow fourfold to cope with the estimated numbers of sexually abused children and young people seeking support at any one time (2).

Debbie Allnock, who led the research and is based at the NSPCC’s Fresh Start in London, said: “Sexual abuse can have devastating consequences for a child but it remains a low priority within mainstream mental health services and among local authorities. Yet experiences of sexual abuse are common among people with severe long-term behavioural, criminal and addiction problems.

“Long waiting lists mean that if a young person is sexually abused they often don’t get the therapeutic help they need unless they also have a child protection plan. It takes bravery for a young person to tell someone about their sexual abuse and ask for help. But their suffering may only get noticed when they show significant signs of distress, anguish or damaging behaviours. They may then have a long wait for the support they desperately need.”

Sexually abused children often need many months of therapy to help them overcome the impact of their abuse – ‘quick fix’ solutions are rarely enough. Yet the report, funded by the Private Equity Foundation, found that therapeutic programmes often risk being cut short due to lack of resources.

Debbie Allnock continued: “It is vital that effective specialist support is readily available when children want it, for as long as they want it. This helps reduce their psychological injury and enables them to lead more fulfilled lives. The severe lack of services across the UK is a serious problem that needs huge investment.”

This pioneering research has identified for the first time the scale of the problem across the UK. But to ensure there is an accurate local picture the NSPCC is urging all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to track the number of sexually abused children who receive therapy.

This will help the government identify gaps in services and provide help for sexually abused children who might otherwise slip through the net.

Tags: Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, ChildLine, Children, Mental Heath

The internet is changing fast – and not always for the better – because for children the dangers it presents are just as real as the opportunities to learn and make friendships.

And unless we take the chance we have now to make the internet safer, we will fall even further behind the criminals who are taking advantage of the industry’s slowness to act.

As you read this there are millions of illegal images of child abuse in circulation online. Children are visiting social networking sites that have no effective control over their content. And with more and more public WiFi zones plus web-enabled mobile phones, access to dangerous content has never been easier.

But together we can make the net safer – please sign our Safety.Net petition now.

The new UK Council for Child Internet Safety is deciding how to make the internet and mobile phones safer for children – and we have the chance to influence it by petitioning the Prime Minister directly on six key issues.

Stop the use of software for private sharing of child abuse images

Block children’s mobile phone access to adult content

Ensure social networking sites protect young users by proactively reviewing and removing offensive/illegal content

Pre-install child safety software on all computer and mobile web devices

Make therapeutic services available for children who have been abused and had pictures and films of the abuse appear on the internet

Provide specialist training for professionals who deal with online offenders The NSPCC has influenced policy in the past with your help and we can, and must, do so again today.

Please sign the Safety.Net petition now and make the net a safer place for children.

Thank you.

Christine Wood
Relationship Manager

Tags: Charities, Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, Home Electricals and Computers, Internet Crime, Internet Security, NSPCC

For most looking at the history of Ann Summers, there is one main question.

Who is Ann Summers? Not the proprietor, as most people believe, but it was named after the secretary – Annie Summers – of the company founder, Caborn Waterfield.

Anne Summers is a very successful chain of high-street sex shops and online retailer of adult themed products. Sales amounted to over £117 million in results announced in 2008.

But the modern-day Ann Summers owes it philosophy and success to current Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Gold, who first became involved in 1979.

Ms Gold is the daughter of David Gold, another key player in the Ann Summers business, and it was he who acquired the original four Anne Summers shops in 1972. In 1979, Ms Gold was trying out a management career at Royal Dalton, but knowing that it was not for here, she asked her father to join his company and gain some hands-on experience.

Ms Gold is said to have been a little uncomfortable with the ‘maleness’ of the company when she first arrived, but was astute to see that there was a very viable business if she could develop it her own way. All she needed was the right approach.

And that presented itself when Ms Gold visited a Tupperware style party in 1981. She had the idea that such a party, which attracted an all-female audience and held in a person’s home, could easily sell and promote adult themed products. It was a matter of just swapping the Tupperware, for adult products; the audience was fundamentally the same.

So started the Ann Summers Party Plan which has proved to be very successful as not only a sales distribution outlet, but also as a way of promoting Ann Summers products. They also proved Ms Gold’s credentials when it came to developing the Company. She became CEO in 1987 and has built Ann Summers into an international and hugely successful brand.

It boasts around 140 high-street stores in the U.K., Ireland and Spain, and in 1999 acquired and incorporated the up-market lingerie Knickerbox brand (including five stores) into the Anne Summers portfolio. The Ann Summers Party Plan is still going strong, with the Company making use of some 7,500 party organisers. The Ann Summers website has also proved a great success, offering the brand another lucrative sales outlet.

With its extensive store network, party plan network and online outlet, Anne Summers will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for some years to come.

Tags: Ann Summers, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!), Lingerie, Sexy Lingerie, Underwear

The NSPCC is 125 years old this May so why not celebrate by Stopping for Tea with friends and colleagues. It’s a great opportunity to help end cruelty to children whilst you and your friends, family and colleagues enjoy a cup of the nation’s favourite drink together.

Put on your tea party

Here are just a few ideas for ways you can enjoy Stop for Tea and raise money for children, whether you’re holding an event for two people or 20!

Tea parties at home
Afternoon tea Invite your friends and family round to enjoy finely cut cucumber sandwiches, pastries and tea for a small fee.

Children’s tea party Invite your friends and their children to a party with miniature tea sets. Treat them to milk and cookies for a small donation, and have fun decorating teacups.

Tea breaks at work

The boss’s turn Why not get your manager to make the tea for the office, and collect tips for the NSPCC?

Tea and cake Ask your colleagues to bake cakes in advance. Have a competition and ask people to pay to sample the entries.

Tea with a twist
Tee off Set up a Stop for Tea golf competition at your local club and invite your friends and other members to pay to take part.

Something stronger Invite friends over for the evening and sell tea-inspired drinks such as Long Island iced tea and G&T!

Download great materials today (Download Here) or order a Stop for Tea pack by email stopfortea@nspcc.org.uk

Tags: Charities, Charity Event, NSPCC, UK Charity

London commuters did a double take this morning as an unlikely cast of famous women recreated one of the most iconic movie posters of all time, in a live billboard ad to launch Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2009 series.

The five women – including actress and TV presenter Lynda Bellingham and larger-than-life comedienne Amy Lamé – recreated the infamous police line-up image from ‘The Usual Suspects’ poster to kick off the ‘If I can do it…’ campaign, which highlights that every woman is invited to take part in the Race for Life series, whatever their age, shape, size and fitness level.

Entitled ‘The Unusual Suspects’, the unlikely group of famous faces was completed by Casualty actress and breast cancer patient Rebekah Gibbs, Ruth Lorenzo from X Factor, actress Laila Morse, and ‘Green Goddess’ and breast and skin cancer survivor Diana Moran. Together with a group of women from around the UK, the ‘If I Can Do It…’ ambassadors appeared in the live billboard advert, positioned in London’s Paternoster Square, in a bid to underline that the 5k event is achievable for all women, especially as participants can either walk, jog or run the distance.

All the women who took part in the live ad have their own connection to cancer, with the group including survivors of the disease and those with close relatives who have been affected by cancer.

Now in its 16th series, Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event. Women are invited to walk, jog or run 5k at over 230 Race for Life events taking place across the UK this summer. The charity is hoping that 680,000 women will come together and help raise over £60 million to fund the charity’s life saving work into all forms of cancer. Cancer Research UK’s work has saved millions of lives in the UK and across the world.

As part of the ‘If I can do it…’ campaign, the charity has also set up a website where participants can learn more about the ambassadors and get hints and tips to prepare a Race for Life, which includes advice from Diana Moran and a regular training blog from Amy Lamé. The ‘If I can do it…’ site can be found at www.raceforlife.org/ifICanDoit .

Amy Lamé said: “It was great fun being part of the live advert with all the other women, and we want to show people that 5k is a perfectly achievable distance for every woman. Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2009 is for every woman, because it’s not about how fit or young you are, it’s about taking part and raising money to beat cancer. Sadly many of my family members, including my mother, sister, aunts and grandmother have all been touched by cancer and I can’t wait to participate this year and I say to every woman out there – if I can do it, so can you!”

Janine Edgar, ‘If I Can Do It…’ ambassador, aged 29 added: “I wanted to become an ‘If I Can Do It…’ ambassador because I battled bladder cancer whilst pregnant with my first child, Jonty in 2006. Amazingly, I managed to walk a Race for Life whilst undergoing my chemotherapy treatment in 2007 and also took part when I was pregnant with my second child, Eloise in 2008. The great thing is that 5k is an achievable distance for all – you really don’t have to run it. I have been one of my local event’s highest fundraisers and each year I take part I try to raise as much money as possible. I would really encourage other women to take part this year – I’m living proof that anyone can do it!”

Each Race for Life event covers a distance of 5k and Cancer Research UK is encouraging women of all ages and levels of fitness to participate. To sign up for a Race for Life event and for more information on the ‘If I can do it…’ campaign, go to www.raceforlife.org/ifICanDoit

Notes to Editors

Unusual suspects celebrities and ‘If I Can Do It…’ ambassadors:

Lynda Bellingham, actress, aged 60
Rebekah Gibbs, actress, aged 35
Amy Lamé, comedienne, aged 38
Ruth Lorenzo, singer, aged 25
Laila Morse, actress, aged 63
Diana Moran, keep fit TV presenter, aged 69

Unusual suspects real-life women and ‘If I Can Do It…’ ambassadors:

Jacki Allman, breast cancer survivor and daughter Karen is breast and leukaemia survivor, aged 63, Northumberland
Irene Milburn, double breast cancer survivor, aged 67, Leeds
Janine Edgar, bladder cancer survivor, aged 29, Suffolk
Jean Mudie, breast cancer survivor, aged 60, The Wirral
Mavis Ingram, colon cancer survivor, aged 67, Cardiff
Katie Gallienne, currently 8 months pregnant, lost her daughter Olivia, aged 2 and a half to leukaemia, aged 32, Hampshire
Jessica Miller, bone cancer survivor, aged 13, Hampshire
Jacqueline Thomas, breast cancer survivor, aged 52, Surrey
Margaret Cameron, breast cancer survivor, age 71, Glasgow

About Cancer Research UK:

Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to beat cancer
Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer
Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients
Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make
Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer
For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.uk

Tags: Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK, Charities, Gifts, Race for Life