Call for action over child welfare figures
A child protection charity is calling for action after dealing with a 27% increase in reports of children in distress.
The NSPCC says it made 2,281 referrals to the police or children’s services in the North East over the last year – against the backdrop of the pandemic.
Referrals are made when concerns reported to the helpline are considered serious enough to warrant further investigation – with the main reasons for referrals being concerns relating to parental and adult health and behaviour, alcohol and substance misuse, domestic abuse and parental mental health.
Nationally, the charity’s helpine received nearly 85,000 contacts from April 2020 to March 2021, a 23% increase on the previous year, with 47% of these leading to a referral to police or children’s services.
It says that, with most children back in schools and society, the harm they experienced during the lockdowns will become visible and is calling on the Government to invest in keeping children safe and well in the future.
Sir Peter Wanless, the charity’s chief executive, said: ‘’We’ve been hearing first-hand about the immense pressures families have faced during the pandemic.
"And the heavy toll that has taken on children and young people.
“The record number of contacts to our helpline reinforces the need for the Government to put children at the heart of their recovery plans.
"These must go beyond education and address the harm some have experienced so the pandemic doesn’t leave a legacy of trauma for children.
“But this isn’t just a job for our Governments.
"Everyone has to play their part in keeping children safe.”