28pc surge in abused kids helped by Childline

THE number of children contacting Childline over grooming and sexual exploitation has soared over the past year, the helpline has revealed.

The service’s annual report has revealed a 28 per cent increase in counselling sessions with children who have been groomed and forced into sexual activity in Scotland over the past year.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) round-the-clock phoneline delivered a total of 208 counselling sessions for children living in Scotland in 2018-19 compared to 162 the previous year.

UK-wide, it delivered 4,500 counselling sessions – up 16 per cent from the previous year – to children as young as nine and older youths who were coerced or forced into sexual activity.

In more than a third of counselling sessions UK-wide, a total of 38 per cent of young people disclosed they were targeted online – usually through social media or video games – and often by their peers or people known to them.

Children also received help because they were forced to perform or watch sexual acts or had been persuaded into sending naked images or videos of themselves.

Young people told their experience with sexual exploitation also included receiving affection or gifts in exchange for sexual activities.

The NSPCC last night called on the Scottish Government to provide training to teachers to deliver effective and relevant lessons about healthy relationships and consent; and to support young people to get help from a trusted adult.

Matt Forde, National Head of Service for NSPCC Scotland, said: ‘Sadly, we are hearing from young people every day who are being manipulated or blackmailed into carrying out sexual acts.

‘For many this impacts on their mental health and leaves them feeling isolated from the people closest to them. Some turn to self-harm, alcohol or substance misuse as ways of coping with their experiences.

‘We must be prepared to confront this problem, from government right through to schools, parents, professionals and us at Childline.’

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government made a series of recommendations to improve personal and social education in schools including a focus on the issue of sexual consent.

Mr Forde added: ‘Childline needs to recruit more volunteers to make sure they can be there for every child who needs our help, at all times of day and night.’