Issuu

It’s been my absolute pleasure and privilege to work as the CEO of the NSPCC over the past 11 years.

The NSPCC changes children’s lives – it always has done. And it will continue to do so after I leave my position later this year. I’m so proud to have played my part in that.

Just like the children we work with; our dedicated team are constantly adapting to a changing world. It can be tough work, but you’re helping to make it all happen.

I cannot thank you enough.

This issue of Small Talk is a celebration of your support, and all that it makes possible for children across the UK.

Welcome to Small Talk! You’re helping children find comfort, no matter what’s going on in their world.

Each and every time a young person finds comfort and support as a result of our services, you’re helping to make that happen.

Thank you.

Sir Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of NSPCC

“Thank you for being the first place to actually listen to me.”

When life gets overwhelming, Childline is here to give children a place to turn. When life feels tough, Childline is here for young people. Hear directly from those you’re supporting…

“Childline has been a great help, thank you. Things have been so difficult with my dad lately, but you reminded me that I have other good relationships with friends, my grandparents and teachers. Remembering that makes it easier to cope.” (Girl, 18)

“Things are improving with my mum since I spoke to Childline. I wrote a message to her to share how our arguments have been affecting me. Last night, we managed to open up about our feelings. It was such a relief.” (Girl, 11)

“ With everything going on at home I’d really been on the brink of running away. Thank you for listening to me and suggesting some other options to get me through this.” (Boy, 14)

“I’d been feeling like I was going to explode. I’ve had a lot going on with bullying and a family member passing away. Thank you for being the first place to actually listen to me, just having someone listen has helped so much.” (Young person, 17)

“I spoke to you before about an image of me online. Thank you for having it taken down before it reached anyone at school. I’m so glad this is over. This wouldn’t have stopped without Childline’s help.” (Girl, 14)

Looking back

Our vision is that, together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. We’ve been focussed on enabling everyone to play their part in achieving this; from members of the public to MPs, to law enforcement and tech companies.

with workshops we’re running in communities across the UK, will create a social safety net for children and young people. Listen up, Speak up

We all have an important role to play in identifying and responding to child abuse and neglect. Our Listen up, Speak up campaign is encouraging every adult in the UK to take a free 10-minute online training course:

‘Connect the Dots’.

This training teaches adults how to spot the signs that a child might be at risk – and equips them with the knowledge of what to do next.

Over the coming years we want to reach 1 million people to take actions that help to prevent abuse. The training combined

Report Remove

Report Remove is a tool which supports young people in removing personal content from the internet.

A collaboration between Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Report Remove can be accessed via the Childline website by anyone aged 18 or under.

The tool allows young people to report a nude image or video of themselves that has appeared online. The IWF then reviews the report and works speedily with tech companies and law enforcement to remove the content.

In 2023/24, there were over 900 Report Remove reports assessed, resulting in over 1,200 pieces of content being removed.

The Online Safety Bill

becomes law

After years of campaigning, the Online Safety Bill became an official law in Parliament!

Websites are now being built with children and young people’s safety in mind, and are legally required to protect children from harm.

This is a huge step towards making the internet a safer place for children – and we simply couldn’t have done this without you.

1 in 5 internet users in the UK is a child.

The journey – from June 2018 until today!

June 2018 - 46,000 signatures! We launch our petition which becomes backed by 46,000 supporters.

January 2020 - 11,000 supporters

11,000 of our supporters email their MP, reaching every MP in Parliament.

September 2021 – 41,000 signatures

41,000 supporters ask the Secretary of State to strengthen the Bill, to ensure that children are protected online.

Are you worried about how to support a young person who has had a sexual image or video of themselves shared online? Visit childline.org.uk/remove

March 2022 – The Bill’s journey begins! Online Safety Bill starts its journey to the House of Commons.

October 2022 – 48,000 signatures

48,000 supporters and those affected by online harms, urge Rishi Sunak to bring back the Online Safety Bill.

November 2022 – Young people have their say

Young people meet with Peers to discuss having their voices at the heart of the Bill. Peers then champion children’s voices in future debates.

January 2023 – Campaign win!

We work with MPs and secure an amendment to make tech bosses criminally responsible if children are harmed.

October 2023 – We did it!

Through our collective hard work and campaigning, the Online Safety Bill becomes law – making the internet a safer place for young people everywhere.

Aaron’s Story

Aaron’s brother Liam, died by suicide when he was just 14 years old. Today, Aaron shares his story – and how he is honouring Liam with his fundraising work for Childline.

My best friend

“I grew up the middle child of three brothers. My parents worked hard to give us a foundation for the future.

The five of us lived in a two-bedroom flat which meant that Liam and I shared a bedroom.

He wasn’t just my brother – he was my best friend. We were incredibly close, and I was always protective over him.”

He had a really big heart

“Liam was very artistic from a young age and sketched a lot, he often drew me pictures which I still display proudly on my bedroom wall.

Liam was incredibly smart and often surprised us with his academic ability at such a young age. He had a really big heart and was destined to be a wonderful man.”

Something was different

“Something was different with Liam in the months leading up to his death. He wasn’t the same.

I remember sitting him down on my bed and asking him to please open up to me, but he wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”

A terrible day

“The day Liam died I had been at work, and I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

When I got in, my mum was downstairs, and Liam was upstairs in his room. I knocked on the door of Liam’s bedroom, but he didn’t answer.

After a while, Mum and I went upstairs to get him. That’s when we found him.

The days following Liam’s death just felt numb. We were in disbelief.”

An NSPCC fundraiser helped me set up the page which was a really constructive and positive thing for me to do – it felt like it was Liam’s space. No one could take that away.

While I was training for the triathlon, I started doing small car boot sales and organised a football match with all proceeds going towards Liam’s fund.

Making Liam proud

“I decided to do a small fundraiser in Liam’s memory for Childline – because I wish he’d known that Childline could have helped him, if he’d only called.

“My message to any young person is that despite what you might think, there are people out there who care about you and want to help.”

I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I wanted to impress Liam –so I signed up for a triathlon.

After signing up to fundraise for Childline, I received a call from the NSPCC who suggested setting up a Tribute Fund for Liam. That way, all the money donated to my triathlon could be logged in Liam’s name.

Before I knew it, I’d raised £15,000 for Liam’s Tribute Fund. I’d met so many more of Liam’s friends and shared memories about him. I felt like I knew him more than ever.”

You are not alone

“My message to any young person is that despite, what you might think, there are people out there who care about you and want to help. Things can and do get better and you’ve got so much to give to the world.

Childline is there for you and the counsellors on the phones, message boards and responding to emails do care about what’s happening to you – you are not alone.”

Aaron currently campaigns for the vital Childline service. He has also set up The Liam Charity, in loving memory of his brother.

Speak out, Stay safe

Speak out, Stay safe is the NSPCC’s safeguarding programme for children aged 5 to 11 years old – available to all Primary Schools in the UK and Channel Islands.

At the NSPCC, we believe that every child has the right to be safe. With Speak out, Stay safe, we teach children how to recognise abuse and neglect, empowering them to speak out if they are worried about anything.

We support children to understand that abuse is never their fault. And that they always have somewhere to turn. With the help of our mascot

Buddy, we cover topics like bullying and abuse, but without using scary words or adult language.

We help young people identify safe adults they can talk to if they’re ever worried about themselves or a friend. Children also learn about Childline – and how it can support them both now and in the future.

Did you know?

We have an adapted six-week programme for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and additional needs (ASN/ALN).

The programme helps children to understand:

That abuse is never their fault

How to recognise the signs

That they have the right to be safe

Where to get help

“I attended a Speak out, Stay safe assembly this week and it was just awesome. Everyone in my class found Buddy so cute. I have friends who contacted Childline before and they said it’s been very helpful, so after the visit I thought I’d get in touch to see what it’s like.”

(Girl, aged 10)

The Speak out, Stay safe programme contains:

Virtual assemblies for children aged 5-7 and 7-11, available in English, Welsh, and British Sign Language

Follow-on lesson plans with engaging activities and resources about Speak out, Stay safe (available in both English and Welsh)

Face-to-face workshops for children aged 6-7 and 9-11 (get in touch to find out about availability in your area!)

Watch our new Speak out, Stay safe information video.

A lifeline, for every young person

Our Childline service gives children and young people a voice when no one else is listening – and has done for over 35 years. We sat down for a chat with Carolyn Burns who works as a Supervisor at Childline, to learn more about her journey and what Childline means to her.

Thank you for your time today! How did you get into your role with Childline?

My passion has always been working with children, young people – and protecting them. That’s shaped my whole career.

I originally started off (38 years ago!) as a nursery nurse, and then as an Education Welfare Officer.

That’s where I could put my training into action, safeguarding young people, working at after-school clubs and delivering training for other people who wanted to learn.

There came a time where I was looking for a change in career. I wanted to rediscover my passion. I’d been a big admirer of the NSPCC for a long time, and I saw that a supervisor role had become available.

I applied – and got the job! And seven years later, I am still at the NSPCC today! Six of those have been spent working as part of the Childline team.

What are some of the things children and young people contact Childline to discuss?

Mental health is one of the main reasons young people contact us. It is a key issue that children are facing today.

We support young people who are going through a difficult time. These can be complex and high-risk issues. Or we can just give them the space to share and feel heard.

Sometimes the work can be intense when supporting an abuse contact. Thankfully, every counsellor goes through rigorous training, and we’re ready to help.

Currently, another topic some young people want to talk to Childline about is Gender and Sexual Identity

It’s amazing that we can help young people by being a listening ear for them in these areas of life that can be confusing.

Is there a particular young person’s experience that stands out for you?

I remember talking to one young person who was suicidal. They were walking towards a bridge.

I managed to start talking with this young person, letting them know – “you are important, we are here to support you.”

When this young person got to the bridge, I asked them if they could walk over the bridge, slowly and at their own pace. And they did.

Once they’d walked across the bridge, they could breathe. We started talking about their feelings, what had led them to feeling that way, talking it all through.

I knew I’d made a real difference that day.

Why is Childline so important to you?

Being there for children is so rewarding, particularly knowing that we are making a huge difference to their lives. And, you know, there isn’t any other service like Childline.

I mean, there are other great services, but we’re the only service in the UK that’s available 24 hours for the children and young people that need us. I’m proud to be part of it.

How do you wind down after a tough shift? Everyone has to sometimes!

All supervisors need that chance to offload and wind down – because we’re often working with complex and high-risk young people. I love our work, but it can be difficult.

Luckily, I’m part of a fantastic team of supervisors and managers. We’re there for each other.

I try and make sure we always have fun events planned, we go out together, we make sure we’re all doing well. That’s so important.

What else are you passionate about?

Musical theatre is my other big passion. I used to perform on the stage myself at my local theatre and I’m still a member of that group. In fact, I’ll be working at the front of house for their

Celebrating you!

Supporters fuel everything we do here at the NSPCC – so it’s only right we take some time to celebrate you. Here are some incredible recent achievements from our supporters. Thank you!

Step by step

During the Christmas period, hundreds of our amazing supporters got together to walk 5km to raise funds and help keep children safe.

Last year, ‘Walk for Children 2023’ raised £100,500 – an incredible sum. This amount could help towards answering over 25,000 contacts to Childline.

If you’d like to take part in the 2024 Walk for Children event, please register by visiting nspcc.org.uk/walk or alternatively, contact the Supporter Care Team on 020 7825 2505.

Along for the ride

Tilly and Alex travelled with a large group across the UK. Together, they completed 7 walks across England, Wales and Scotland, covering 40km, and raised an

Henry is a keen cyclist and NSPCC supporter – and was prompted to start fundraising when friends suggested that he take on the London to Brighton cycle ride.

For Henry, the NSPCC was the obvious choice when choosing the charity he wanted to fundraise for.

“Children often lack a voice, hence the need for organisations such as the NSPCC”, Henry explains. “If the money I help raise can assist one such child to reach their potential, it will have been worth it.”

To date, Henry has completed the London to Brighton Cycle six times as well as planning four rides for himself, raising over £5,000! What a brilliant effort.

Volunteer with us

We’d love for you to volunteer! Any time you can spare is invaluable.

From volunteering as a Childline Counsellor to leading workshops in schools, there is something for everyone.

If you want to get involved - there are a range of ways to volunteer:

Volunteer as a Childline Counsellor and be there for children and young people when they need support. Available over the phone or online, Childline is there, no matter their worry.

Deliver Speak out, Stay safe workshops in your local primary school. Equip children with the knowledge they need about abuse – and give them the confidence to speak out if they ever need help.

Volunteer with our Young Witness service in Northern Ireland, supporting children and young people who are due to give evidence in court.

Become an events cheerer at a sporting event! No experience required, just a sense of team spirit and a loud voice.

Building Connections befriend and support young people who are experiencing or struggling with the impact of loneliness.

Partners in Business

Can your company help us be there for children and families across the UK and Channel Islands?

Whether you want to make a donation, complete a fundraising activity, or partner with us, as a Partner in Business you will receive exclusive access to a range of content and resources to help you and your colleagues support us.

Scan the QR code to sign up today!

Campaigning together

Your support helps us campaign far and wide to keep children and young people safe – meeting the challenges of a changing world.

Young People’s Board for Change

The Young People’s Board for Change gives young people the chance to shape and influence our work. The board makes sure that young people are right at the heart of our decision making.

Board for Change members meet monthly over their two-year term to discuss issues they care about – and give advice to the NSPCC on the work we do.

Alongside this, members also advise on how to campaign for change, support staff recruitment and influence the development of our services.

“We can’t quite believe how many projects and activities we’ve had the opportunity to be involved in over the

last year,” explains Lily, a Board member.

“The most exciting project was a live event in London for Childline with Cocoa Magazine. We had a dialogue around how to better support young people from Black, Asian and ethnically minoritised communities.”

“At the event, we met celebrities and heard about how Childline can be a service that reaches all children.”

“We are a group of 15 young people with such different experiences who all care so much about helping to make a difference.” Lily, 14

Talk PANTS Week, Haringey

Talk PANTS is our ongoing programme which helps children to understand that a) their body belongs to them, and b) if they need to speak out about something, someone will listen. For the second Haringey PANTS Week, we brought our friendly mascot Pantosaurus to primary schools,

libraries and early years settings across this London borough – reaching over 800 children across the week.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the week absolutely roar-some!

Every child should have the chance to be playful, carefree – and enjoy their formative years to the full.

But for that to happen, children need support. They need guidance to help them navigate a changing world, online and off. And sometimes, they need to be protected.

By leaving a gift in your Will to the NSPCC, you can make sure that more children are safe and supported. And by doing that, you can give the most powerful gift: a safe, happy childhood.

We’ve been fighting for safer childhoods for over 140 years. By leaving a gift in your Will to the NSPCC, you can make sure we continue to be there for children –protecting their dreams, and their childhoods – for years to come.

“Everyone

is entitled to a full and happy life. Abuse survivors are cheated out of their childhoods. With my gift, I want to show people that your past doesn’t have to cheat you out of your future.”

Annie, who gave a gift to the NSPCC from her mother’s estate If you’re interested in supporting us in this special way, you can: Call 020 7825 2505* Email legacyinfo@nspcc.org.uk Visit nspcc.org.uk/giftsinwills