Thanks for helping keep children safe

The NSPCC has had a wonderfully successful 2019. Our Schools Service volunteers and staff delivered Speak Out Stay Safe in 311 schools and spoke to 92,477 children in the West Midlands about their right to be happy and safe. We want a whole generation of children to know what abuse is, that it’s never a child’s fault and who to turn to if they ever need to talk.

On top of that, our trained Childline volunteer counsellors have delivered approximately 14,400 counselling sessions to children in the West Midlands who felt they had no one else to turn to.

We rely on public support to help us continue our work and it is only thanks to the fantastic generosity of people in the West Midlands that we have been able to reach so many children.

The New Year brings with it the opportunity to make a fresh start a chance to make resolutions and if any of your readers haven’t yet supported us, we would love them to think about getting involved in 2019. There are so many ways to do this.

Why not take part in a sponsored event? Volunteer for our Speak Out Stay Safe service or Childline, or join your nearest fundraising group? To find out how you can support the NSPCC and help us reach even more children in 2020 and beyond, visit nspcc.org.uk/ what-you-can-do.

Emma Thompson NSPCC Schools Service area

Well done for playing vital roles

AS an opponent of the Tories, I would nevertheless like to congratulate Julian Smith MP on his role in getting the Irish Assembly running. He does not hog the limelight and is all the more effective as a result. I also commend Boris Johnson for staying out of the way and delegating effectively.

Paul Graham, Nuneaton