NSPCC Small Talk

Welcome to the latest edition of Small Talk. I’d like to start by saying how grateful all of us at the NSPCC are for the support you’ve shown us.

We couldn’t have managed any of the work you are about to read about without your generous support. Your donations have allowed us to make real, concrete change for children. Thank you.

As you will no doubt know, children and families today are facing extraordinary challenges. Forefront of our minds is the cost-of-living crisis, which leaves households who are already stretched struggling even further.

And while we’re no longer in lockdown, the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt. From abuse at home going unchecked to pupils struggling to access online lessons, it’s clear that children will need a range of specialist support to

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alarming rates of online abuse and grooming. As you’ll see later, we’ve been campaigning for laws that put children’s safety online first.

I’d also like to highlight the organisation’s goals for the coming years. We’ll focus on making sure everyone plays their part to stop child abuse; ensuring every child is safe online; and helping all children feel safe, listened to and supported.

Research tells us the NSPCC is uniquely well placed to address these three challenges. With your help, we’ll achieve each goal and create truly transformative change for children in our society.

It’s only because of people like you that we can continue fighting for every childhood. Thank you so much for all that you do.

Sir Peter Wanless Chief Executive of NSPCC

If you’d like to get in touch about any of the issues raised in Small Talk, we would love to hear from you:

Email: supportercare@nspcc.org.uk Telephone: 020 7825 2505 (lines open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)

Postal address: NSPCC Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH

Children’s voices

Childline gives children and young people confidential support when they need it. Thanks to people like you, we can ensure children always have someone to turn to.

It feels like I’ve broken out of the dark place I was in. I finally feel happy and like I can be my true self. If it wasn’t for me finding Childline, I don’t know where I would be.

Girl, 15

I feel completely different from when I first reached out to Childline. I’m in such a positive mindset. Childline has reassured me and made me feel less guilty.

Girl, 16

I used to think Childline was only a place for children who have abusive parents, but what I have learnt is that it is a community of understanding strangers who can help you with anything. I can’t express how truly grateful I am for the effort they have put into helping me.

Girl, 11

I explained to the counsellors how I felt stuck in negative thought loops and I didn’t know how to get out of them. They were patient and helped me to really understand why I was feeling that way. If I ever need to speak to someone again, Childline will be the first place I come to.

Boy, 15

I have struggled with suicidal thoughts and feelings for years and my first suicide attempt was a little while ago. I’m grateful to Childline for getting an ambulance sent to me as it opened up support.

Girl, 14

I feel like I can talk about all the things I’ve been going through and say exactly how I feel knowing that I won’t be judged.

Boy, age unknown

Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been busy supporting new parents, keeping children safe online and highlighting male mental health.

Bill

Politicians have begun to debate the Online Safety Bill, which will mean technology companies have to protect children on their platforms. For too long, tech companies have treated child safeguarding as an optional extra, not a necessity. This has fuelled the scale and extent of the abuse that children face, so the success of the Bill is crucial.

In the last 12 months alone, 40,000 supporters wrote to Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to highlight the importance of the Bill.

But the Bill could still do more to stop abuse. We want to see technology companies working together, tackling abuse before it spreads. We want robust safety rules for all sites and apps that children use. And we want to ensure children are listened to when they

Newssay they’re being harmed online. We won’t stop until every child is safe online – but we can’t do it alone. Together we can make sure the Bill does everything possible to stop online grooming and abuse.

Childline counsellors regularly hear from boys who are reluctant to reach out for help because they’re ashamed to share their emotions. To combat this, we launched We All Feel It , a campaign that supports boys to speak about their mental health before they reach crisis point.

Support for new parents

As many as 1 in 5 mums and 1 in 10 dads in the UK experience mental health issues during pregnancy and after birth, but many don’t get the help they need. That’s why we’ve been campaigning for better support, and calling for an end to the postcode lottery that currently exists when it comes to accessing perinatal mental health services.

We released a video featuring sports, social media and gaming to convey the emotions some young people struggle to articulate. We also interviewed two football players –Neco Williams and Hamza Choudhury – who shared their mental health experiences. The campaign encourages boys in particular to use Childline. As a result, we’ve already seen a big increase in page views on the mental health section of Childline’s website.

Over 25,000 of our supporters have signed our Fight for a Fair Start petition, and we’ve already seen the UK government pledge £100 million in funding. But we believe there’s still more to be done. That’s why in May, we went to Downing Street and handed in our petition to demand access to perinatal mental health support for every parent.

Keep up to date with the NSPCC

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Where it all began

I wasn’t coping when I contacted Childline. I refused to accept that I was good at anything, be that my exams or even just how I looked. This developed further into anxiety problems which left me feeling very lonely. Eventually all this pressure mounted up and I started having panic attacks. All of this had a knock-on effect with my relationships. I distanced myself from friends and ended up feeling even lonelier. Suddenly I wouldn’t go out or

join in with anything, and I lost all my confidence. I really started to spiral. At my lowest point, I was spending time in my room alone and not wanting to be with people. I was having panic attacks, and I couldn’t stay in lessons because I was scared I’d be judged if I got an answer wrong.

I was even self-harming by cutting myself because I felt I deserved to be punished. At times, it felt like the physical pain was easier than the emotional pain. I know that’s irrational now, but at the time it felt real.

Naomi first contacted Childline at the age of 14. Read on to learn how Childline helped her recover from anxiety, low self-esteem and self-harm to become the confident person she is today.

Naomi’s story

Naomi at NSPCC HQ for Invaders Day

Naomi’s

Contacting Childline

I first contacted Childline at 14, when I found out that they had online chat. I felt more comfortable contacting them online, and more confident to talk about my problems.

Contacting Childline was a turning point for me. They helped me understand that I deserved to have support. They gave me the confidence to speak with teachers at my school, which went well. I’ve now completed a course of therapy, which has made a huge difference. I found better coping skills and discovered that I have power over my future.

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The road to recovery

Things are a lot better now. I no longer self-harm and I’m more comfortable in my own skin. I’ve even started to do some volunteering, which has made a big difference to my self-esteem.

Talking to Childline helped me feel much less alone. We also discussed my strengths, which left me feeling a lot better about myself. I knew Childline was always there for me if I needed it, and that was a massive help when I was at my loneliest. Working together with them, I discovered ways to help me cope better when I’m feeling low.

I want other young people to know that no matter how big or small their problem might seem, there’s always someone out there who will understand and listen. It was Childline that really helped me start to pull my life back around. If they hadn’t been there to listen and make me realise I was worth something, I don’t know where I would be today.

Photos: 1. This is a photo from an event I spoke at as an NSPCC young ambassador . 2. This one is the most recent photo, taken at the Women of the Year awards a couple of years ago.

Through Childline, we give children a voice. Day and night, 365 days a year, our counsellors are here to support them through life’s challenges and ensure they have somewhere to turn when they need it. 1111

Contacting Childline was a turning point for me. They helped me understand that I deserved to have support. Naomi

Naomi at the Women of the awardsYear

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NSPCC Helpline

If you’re concerned about a child, the NSPCC Helpline is open seven days a week for support and advice. 0808 800 5000

Last year, national lockdowns made it harder than ever to know if a child was being abused in their own home. That’s why it was crucial that our Helpline remained open throughout this period. Our experts were available to offer advice and support to parents, carers, professionals and members of the public.

In total last year, we took almost 67,000 contacts. Today, our Helpline remains open for any adult, with any concern. We’re here to listen and offer support to those who need it.

The SometimesImpact the prospect of speaking out can be daunting. You might not know what to say, or who to tell. That’s where the NSPCC Our AboutimpacttheHelplineServiceFocus

Helpline comes in. We help people report their concerns, and our expert team ensure that everyone who contacts us feels heard. We get some amazing feedback from contacts. After one call about the neglect of two young children, the Helpline made a referral to Children’s Services. The caller had noticed poor home conditions, and that the children were unclean and wearing unsuitable clothes. Afterwards, the caller said:

I am very impressed with your swift response and professionalism. I had a call from Children’s Services and trust now that they will act in the best interests of these children.

Donations from our supporters mean our Helpline can continue this life-changing work. The difference it makes to children and adult survivors is impossible to overstate.

Advice and support

Last year, our Helpline staff made over 25,000 referrals to child protection agencies. Alongside this, we also support adults working with children. We recently talked to a professional who was struggling with their mental health following an incident they witnessed at work. When they called us, a child protection specialist made sure there were no outstanding safety concerns. Then they offered the caller advice and support. The caller told us:

News and updates

I feel more comfortable and confident with how I felt about the situation as I felt horrible. I was so scared of being shamed or thought badly of. Hearing the advisor value and reassure me was exactly what I needed.

Report Abuse in Education Helpline:

In 2021, we launched the Report Abuse in Education helpline, which has dealt with 1,196 contacts. We’re here for anyone who’s suffered sexual abuse or harassment in an educational setting, and for those with concerns about someone else.

Expanding Helpline

teams: We’ve recently opened a brand-new Helpline base in Birmingham, to add to our two existing sites. We’ve created three new teams of child protection specialists, meaning we can support even more children.

Hide the Page: We’ve implemented a ‘hide page’ function on our most sensitive web pages and are currently working to expand this further. This helps protect service users in unsafe situations

We’d like to say a huge thank you for your support, which helps us run vital services like the Helpline. People like you help us keep so many children safe.

Pregnancy in Mind

Pregnancy in Mind helps expectant parents (including fathers!) who are at risk of experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety, which could ultimately impact their child. We work with people across the UK and have hubs in Jersey, Nottingham, Belfast, Liverpool, Swindon, Cardiff and Bradford. Expectant parents take part in group sessions and one-to-one calls, so they have a broad range of support. We do guided mindfulness and active relaxation exercises, as well as teaching techniques for managing stress. Participants also learn what they

Our Pregnancy in Mind (PiM) service supports expectant parents with their pregnancies, and creating the best possible environment for their newborns. We caught up with Tori Joel, Project Development Manager for Pregnancy in Mind, to learn more.

Tori Joel - Project DevelopmentManager for Pregnancy Mind

can do to give their babies the best start, including while they’re still in the womb! The parents we work with report experiencing fewer symptoms of depression and feeling more connected to their unborn babies.

The best part of my job is hearing directly from participants. One mum self-referred during her second trimester. She had experienced post-natal depression and anxiety after the birth of her first child and was concerned that the same might happen after the birth of her second. She described feeling like “a weight had been lifted from her shoulders” after contacting us.

Pregnancy in Mind is all about empowering parents and making them feel more confident in their own abilities, and this mum told us she felt able to create her own solutions for managing stress after

reaching out to us. She also felt that our mindfulness and breathing exercises helped her to bond with her baby.

Another fantastic part of the service is that it connects parents. The mum’s group created a WhatsApp chat where they shared updates, questions and advice. They’re even planning to meet in person – with their babies – in the summer! The friendly support network that lasts beyond pregnancy is another positive by-product of the programme.

Not many people are aware that the NSPCC provides preventative support that means babies are born into happier, healthier households and have parents who feel more confident and well equipped to care for them. But this work is so important – that’s why I’ll speak about Pregnancy in Mind whenever I get the chance!

This work is so important – that’s why I’ll speak about Pregnancy in Mind whenever I get the chance!

Tori Joel

Number Day combines fun, learning and fundraising!

Fundraising in schools Day Supporter2022spotlight

While we’ve been fundraising in schools for over 40 years, recently our flagship Number Day has become increasingly popular. Number Day 2022 was even trending at Number 5 on Twitter!

Number Day 2022 saw children across the UK and Channel Islands getting involved and having fun. Many of them decided to ‘Dress up for digits’, wearing maths-themed outfits for the day. This year we saw lots of calculators, dice and football shirts!

There was a whole range of activities to enjoy, including Buddy’s Key Challenge, where pupils complete puzzles so that Buddy will visit their school. We also had lots of new games this year, including

Colouring Fibonacci Spirals and Numbots Enter the Scrapyard.

Marc Winter, Maths Lead at Wickham Common Primary in Bromley, told us:

“Number Day gives the children an opportunity to apply their maths skills while raising money for a fantastic cause. And it helps staff to talk to the children about the important work that the NSPCC does.”

Sian Kenny Maths Lead at Newton Primary in Dunblane

There was a real ‘buzz’ around the school, and the children were engaged all day. Thanks to the NSPCC for the opportunity to celebrate all things numeracy, and to support a wonderful charity.

DIY fundraising!

Do you want to help raise vital funds for the NSPCC, but you’re not sure where to start? Register for your free fundraising pack today!

It’s filled with great ideas, tips and resources to help you get started on fundraisingyourjourney.

Dancing every day for 100 days straight!

Miami, nine, challenged herself to dance every day for 100 days straight, posting videos of her dance routines on YouTube. In the end, she raised over £2,000. It’s an amazing result which will allow us to help more children at risk of abuse. Miami’s proven that there are endless possibilities when it comes to fundraising – the more creative, the better. So why not think outside the box and do something unexpected? You never know how much money you might raise!

It couldn’t be simpler to get a free fundraising pack! Just scan the QR Code or visit the link to get yours:

Creating change in local communities

We campaign across local communities to help keep children and young people safe. Here’s an update on some of our recent work.

Our PANTS Campaign helps children understand what abuse is and how to speak out about it, helps teachers know how to spot signs of

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situation. That’s why we’ve launched a new campaign designed to help young people in Grimsby recognise any warning signs in their relationships. ‘Give it to get it: let’s make respect the new normal’ uses powerful messaging to demonstrate what positive relationships look like. The launch included a theatre piece, performed to local schoolchildren. It got an incredible response, with many children sharing how the piece helped them understand what’s not OK when in a relationship.