CHILD CHARITIES FACING CORONA CRISIS
Call for people to volunteer to help kids facing crisis
CHARITIES supporting children in Scotland yesterday outlined the crisis they are facing caused by the pandemic.
The NSPCC says it has seen a 30 per cent rise in referrals to Scottish protection services for children at risk in violent homes.
And Childline says it is struggling to meet demand due to a lack of volunteers, with calls from desperate kids going unanswered.
Children’s charity NSPCC said a total of 377 referrals were made to police and social services between last April 1 and December 31.
The NSPCC has warned referrals will rise further under current lockdown restrictions, as incidents of domestic abuse surge across the country.
Childline’s Glasgow centre has seen a drop of 40 per cent in volunteers, due to self isolating, shielding and anxiety.
Lauren Burke, Childline team manager in Glasgow, said her centre usually has at least 15 people dealing with contacts from children but social distancing now allows for only seven.
Lauren said: “We are not having full shifts and sometimes only one or two counsellors are coming in.
“There are young people who have not been able to get through to us. We know every call is important.
“It could be a 10-year-old who
There have been young peple who have not been able to get through LAUREN BURKE ON THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS
is struggling to understand what’s going on, a teenager missing their friends, or a 16-year-old considering suicide. It doesn’t matter where they fall in the spectrum of risk, they deserve our time.”
Lauren said it was particularly concerning if children can’t get through given they have seen a rise in calls about physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
She said: “For a good number of children contacting us, home isn’t safe for them. The thought of being trapped at home, potentially with their abuser for longer, with outside support cut off, is really daunting.
“Social workers can’t go into homes and children aren’t seeing counsellors face to face. Over Zoom, they may be in the same space as their abuser and can’t voice concerns. We are noticing there are more high-risk calls.”
Glasgow takes calls from across the UK, which can relate to suicidal thoughts, self-harm, physical and sexual abuse, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
Childline has held more than 3000 counselling sessions about mental and emotional health for young people in Scotland since lockdown last March.
Lauren said in this time of crisis, the service is crucial for youngsters.
She vividly remembers one youngster who had called from a phone box and said she had taken an overdose, so an ambulance was sent to her location. The service has provided remote working for volunteers to answer emails from kids, but for live calls there is a need for supervision and to be in the Childline base.
Another 100 volunteers are needed in Scotland to meet demand and the tighter the lockdown restrictions, the more anxious young people become.
Lauren, who has been with Childline for more than five years and encourages others to volunteer, added: “There are a number of young people who are worried about their families contracting Covid, especially young carers for vulnerable parents.” ●Volunteer or report a concern about a child at www.nspcc.org.uk ●If you are a child in need of support call Childline on 0800 1111