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£30m boost for children's helplines

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0122) issued by The Government News Network on 4 July 2007

The Government's commitment to children's safety is being backed with a grant of £30 million to the NSPCC to make sure every child has someone to call on for help and advice, the newly formed Department for Children, Schools and Families announced today.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) will get £30M over the next four years to strengthen its ChildLine Service - the free helpline for children and young people in the UK. As part of the partnership with the Government the NSPCC will also be putting more money into its helplines.

The money will also help expand the NSPCC's other helpline services, including those provided online, and the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline which allows adults to report concerns. In future children will also be able to access services via text message.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Familes (DSCF), said:

"Children are our most precious resource and we want to give them the best possible start in life. We can't do that unless they are safe. One of my priorities as head of the new department for Children, Schools and Families is to make sure we help the most vulnerable - including those whose childhood is being ruined by abuse or bullying. That's why I'm delighted to say we are putting £30M into the NSPCC's vital services."

Beverley Hughes, Minister of State at DCSF, said:

"The money we are announcing today will allow the NSPCC to expand their services significantly and improve them so that more children can be given the advice and help that can be so important. We all know that children are most familiar and comfortable using modern methods of communications - for example on-line or text messages - and this funding will help the NSPCC develop this."

Dame Mary Marsh, NSPCC Director and Chief Executive, said:

"This is great news for children and young people. We are delighted that the Government has recognised the importance of these services in protecting children from abuse.

"Every day abused children call ChildLine for help and for many this is the first time they have felt able to speak about the abuse they are suffering. Thanks to this funding we will be able to take thousands more calls from children in distress, and to help many more adults who are worried about a child's safety."

ChildLine is a service provided by the NSPCC. It operates 365 days a year and in 2005 nearly 160,000 children received counselling from the service and through a similar service provided over the internet.

The NSPCC Child Protection Helpline receives calls from members of the public and professionals who are concerned about children. It makes referrals to other services where appropriate and provides specific safeguarding advice, information, counselling and support to members of the public who have serious concerns for children. It is staffed by a range of professionally qualified and experienced staff, including social workers, counsellors, teachers and nurses.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Children and young people can call ChildLine on 0800 1111 to talk about any problem. Members of the public who have serious concerns about a child children can call the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000.

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