Bid for your very own unique SpongeBob statue designed by a celebrity!

Date of event:  21 January 2010

Event end date:  04 February 2010

A host of celebrities have donated their creativity to ChildLine by re-designing 1ft high statues of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, which will be auctioned off to the highest bidder in aid of ChildLine.

Leigh Francis, well known for his portrayal of Michael Jackson in his hit TV series Bo’ Selecta, has created SpongeBob ThrillerPants to pay homage to the star. He said:

‘It was a proper privilege to be asked to design a SpongeBob. I love Mr SquarePants. To see him in the guise of the late great King of Pop is brilliant!

It’s great to be able to help something as serious as ChildLine by doing something as fun as this’.

Get bidding!

You can now bid on your favourite SpongeBob here, between Thursday 21 January and Thursday 4 February. 

To place your bid contact Hannah Davies or call 0207 825 2703 . 

To find out more: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/getinvolved/events/spongebobfancypants_wde70394.html

Tags: ChildLine, NSPCC, SpongeBob

An average of sixty sex offences against children were recorded every day by police in England and Wales last year the NSPCC reveals today.

The statistics which were obtained under a Freedom of Information request from all 43 forces in England and Wales, show under-18s were victims of sex crimes, including rape, gross indecency and incest, on 21,618 occasions during 2008-091.

One in seven of the children (3035) were younger than ten and 1,000 were five and under. In more than three out of four cases the offences were committed against 10 to 17-year-olds (17,091)2.

The statistics show girls were six times more likely than boys to be the victims of a sex crime. And the number of incidents where the offender knew the victim was four times higher than those involving strangers.3

The Home Office gathers data from police forces for its annual crime report, which shows there was a total of 51,4884 for all sexual offences in 2008-09, including both adults and children and only splits the figure to show those over or under 13.
Combining these statistics blurs the picture and even though detailed age breakdowns of victims are collected by police they are not passed to the Home Office.
�
This is the second year5 the NSPCC has collected this data and is again calling on the UK Government to publish these details and to clearly link them with the number of convictions and other penalties resulting from the recorded offences. This information could then feed into a national sex abuse prevention strategy as well as helping the development of local services to treat child victims.

NSPCC director of strategy and development Phillip Noyes said: “These figures show just how many children are still being sexually abused every day. It’s a shocking picture – even more so because these are only offences reported to the police. We believe the true extent of the problem is far worse.

“Some of these children are so young they can’t tell anyone what is happening. So it’s vital that adults look out for them and call the NSPCC helpline or contact police and social services if they are concerned.

“Even when they are older some children don’t speak out about the sexual abuse they have suffered because they’re scared they won’t be believed. But help is always available for them through ChildLine.” (0800 1111)

Media office on 020 7825 2533. Out of hours mobile 07976 206 625.

Notes to editors:

1.     The NSPCC asked each police force in England and Wales via a Freedom of Information request. All forces responded. The questions were: 1. How many children (under18) were victims of sex offences committed in your police force area during the year April 2008 – March 2009. 2. Can you supply a gender and exact age breakdown for these victims? 3. What is the relationship of the alleged offender to the victim, if known?

2.     Not all police forces gave a specific age or gender breakdown. Some only gave age ranges.

3.     Nearly two-thirds of the forces (26) provided details about offender relationships.

4.     Source: Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Crime in England and Wales 08/09.

The total number of recorded offences for 2007-08 was 20,758 but one force did not provide any statistics.

Tags: Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, ChildLine, nsppc

Press Releases
19 January 2010

The NSPCC announces film actor Nicholas Hoult as its first ever ambassador for children and young people today (19 January).

The NSPCC honour comes hot on the heels of Nicholas’s nomination for the Orange Bafta rising star award for his role in A Single Man.

Nicholas’s ambassadorship will run for one year and he will support the charity’s activities aimed at children and young people, including ChildLine.

Nicholas joins other NSPCC ambassadors including Kylie Minogue, Peter Andre, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Amir Khan.

Nicholas Hoult said: “As an NSPCC ambassador, I want to encourage young people across the UK to share their feelings and feel confident about doing so. My message to them is you all matter and how you feel matters to ChildLine.

“I’m excited about being nominated for the Orange rising star award at the BAFTAs especially as everyone can vote for their favourite. I’ll probably become nervous about getting votes the closer it gets to the ceremony.”

NSPCC director of communications Keith Bradbrook said: “Nick has been a supporter of the NSPCC for years and we are thrilled that he’s accepted to be an ambassador.  Nick’s influence and inspiration will help us reach even more children and young people.”

Nicholas Hoult previously helped the NSPCC launch Raw Cuts in 2007, a film competition for teenagers and Headspace a partnership between ChildLine and Channel 4.

For more details about NSPCC ambassadors visit www.nspcc.org.uk/ambassadors  .

For further information please contact NSPCC media office on 020 7825 2533 Out of hours mobile: 07976 206 625.

Notes to Editors:

About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity specialising in child protection and its vision is to end cruelty to children. 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 and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about the safety of a child. It helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.

About NSPCC Ambassadors
Ambassador roles are offered to people who share the NSPCC’s mission to end cruelty to children. They are committed individuals who hope to use their public profile over the long term to help promote the messages of the NSPCC.

Tags: Nicholas Hoult, NSPCC, NSPCC ambassador

Your Family, the NSPCC online parenting magazine, kicks off the New Year with a bumper issue featuring topics such as money-saving tips, weaning advice and how to entertain the kids on a rainy day.

Money saving tips
Many of us are feeling the pinch after the festive season and with January pay day seemingly further away than ever, here are some top tips sent in by readers of Your Family to help you make every penny count.

Buy energy-saving bulbs: “We keep lights on all night outside the children’s rooms and the bulbs kept blowing. So we bought energy-saving bulbs, which were more expensive but are supposed to last longer and use less electricity. Three years later, they’re still going strong!”

Freeze leftovers: “If I have food left over after a meal, I always put it straight in the freezer. I used to leave it in the fridge and then forget about it until it had gone off! Now everything gets eaten.”

Turn off and unplug: “Turn televisions, DVD players, stereos, computers and other electrical equipment off when you’re not using them. If you leave them on ‘standby’, they’ll continue to use power and add to your electricity bill. Likewise, unplug your mobile phone charger after use.”

Weaning advice
If you have a baby approaching six months, you will probably be familiar with the anxiety and turmoil that surrounds getting your baby to start eating solids. An article in this issue of Your Family talks about baby-led weaning, which involves encouraging a six month old to join in eating healthy family meals by feeding themself with their fingers. The point of this is to allow baby to play with their food and eat as much or as little as they like — as it’s more about them learning the taste and texture of foods. Baby should still be offered her usual milk feeds.

Rainy day play
With the recent bad weather parents might be tempted to submit to their littles ones demands to watch television all day! Help is at hand, Your Family has put together a a few fun activities to keep children and parents occupied no matter what the weather is like outside. Take advantage of detailed instructions on how to make a fort, decorate your wellies or make a flower card.

Related Websites

Read the full articles and more here

http://firststop/FirstStopHomepage/Scripts/DisplayItemsPage.asp?HomepageItemID=3955

Tags: Charity, nsppc, Your Family

Nearly 30,000 people signed our Safety.Net campaign petition, which tells the Government that the internet must be made safer for children.

The petition, which launched in June 2009, will be presented to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 20 January 2010 by celebrity supporter Levi Roots and NSPCC staff.

In the petition, the Prime Minister is urged to take action on the following six issues:

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

2. Block children’s mobile phone access to adult content.

3. Ensure social networking sites protect children by proactively reviewing and removing offensive/illegal content.

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

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

6. Provide specialist training for professionals who deal with online offenders.

People from across the UK signed the petition, with Children First in Scotland also backing the campaign.

Tags: Internet safety petition, NSPCC

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

Watch Marvin from JLS teach children and young people to express their moods through dance on YouTube! It’s all part of the marketing campaign to promote the ChildLine online service, www.childline.org.uk .

As well as these videos, the service is being promoted to online audiences through things like MSN and online virtual worlds. And in the New Year TV advertising will reach out to young people across the UK.

To coincide with the TV advertising all UK schools will receive a mailing pack of ‘how you feelin?’ posters, which encourage children and young people to express how they are feeling and explore the ChildLine website. From mid-January, teaching packs and an assembly presentations will also be available for secondary school teachers to download.

‘How u feeling’ posters and wallet cards can be ordered on FirstStop.

Related Websites

ChildLine website
http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

http://www.childline.org.uk/Videos/Pages/DanceMoodies2.aspx

Tags: Charities, child protection, Child Safety, Dance, JLS, NSPCC

The NSPCC has had a change of heart over its decision to close its Guernsey operation.

The St Peter Port premises shut on Thursday for the last time with the loss of four full-time staff and a number of part-time support workers.

But the NSPCC says two practitioner staff will continue working on the island.

It said the change of plan recognised the strong representations received from islanders.

The NSPCC’s work in the Bailiwick will also continue through activities such as helplines, training and consultancy

source http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/guernsey/8409865.stm

For more info on the NSPCC visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Charities, child protection, Child Safety, NSPCC

By Alex Steger.

Calls to charity helplines to report child abuse are set to drop by up to two thirds over the Christmas period.

This leaves some children at serious risk of harm according to the NSPCC.

On average around 200 people call the charity’s helpline every day out of concern for a child’s welfare. This figure drops significantly over Christmas.

Last Christmas Eve the NSPCC received 128 calls, a figure that dropped to 72 on Christmas Day before rising again to 103 on Boxing Day.

Last Christmas a number of calls were concerned with children being physically, sexually assaulted or being badly neglected. Three calls were serious enough to need immediate police or social services help.

John Cameron, head of the helpline, said: “Some children don’t get a Christmas break from cruelty. It can happen at any time, any day. But people seem reluctant to report cases of abuse and neglect at this time of year, possibly because they see it as a happy occasion and don’t want to spoil it.

“However, this means some children could be left in dangerous situations when help should be on its way. Hopefully this year people will realise that a child’s safety is more important and give us a call. We are here round-the-clock, 365 days a year.”

For more information on NSPCC visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Alex Steger, Charities, child protection, Child Safety, NSPCC

Cases of child cruely and neglect reached record levels, new police figures reveal

Sunday December 20,2009

By Lucy Johnston

CASES of child cruelty and neglect have reached record levels, new police figures reveal.

The statistics, drawn from the Home Office crime data base show that cases of child abuse are at their highest since records began.

Between 2008 and 2009 police handled 6,184 – a three-fold increase compared to 2000 and 2001. The figures have been compiled as part of a joint Sunday Express and NSPCC crusade to demand that child neglect becomes a political priority in the run-up to the next general election. Last week the Sunday Express revealed one neglected child is dying every week. We also showed how the same “failures and deficiencies” behind the deaths are being repeated year after year despite a string of high-profile abuse cases, including baby Peter.

Diana Sutton, head of campaigns and public affairs for the NSPCC, said: “The jump in crimes against children should sound a warning bell for politicians. They must make the same commitment to tackling these crimes as they do others.”

For more information on NSPCC visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Charities, Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, Diana Sutton, NSPCC