NSPCC urged the government to protect abused children during the summer holidays

The leading children’s charity is calling on authorities to provide more support for children who live in abusive households during their six-week break from school.

According to figures that were uncovered by the NSPCC, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, from 2022 to 2023 their helpline handled the highest number of domestic abuse contacts in the summer period from July to September.

This sparked the leading UK charity to call on the government to provide better support for children, particularly in the form of therapeutic services. This is due to domestic abuse including assault, controlling behaviour, humiliation, isolation, threats and coercion and any other abuse that is used to harm – children who experience or witness this can have poor mental health as a result.

NSPCC said that of those contacting them about 1,422 mentioned emotional abuse. These peaked in June with 190 contacts, and overall, 32% of these took place between June and August.

Against this backdrop, the children’s charity Barnardo’s have also claimed many children experiencing sexual and criminal exploitation are ‘invisible’ to professionals during the school holidays.

Paddi Vint, from the NSPCC, said: ‘It is worrying to know children are having to deal with coercive control, especially over the summer when they are away from teachers and other adults who often spot concerns and who they can turn to for support.’

A 17-year-old girl who contacted the NSPCC’s Childline, of which information was shared with the BBC, said: ‘My dad used to be physically abusive, but this has stopped. Now he calls us names, gaslights us, controls the finances and locks up parts of the house, like the kitchen, so that we aren’t allowed in.

‘The police have been called but they ask us questions in front of my dad so no one can say the real truth.

‘I feel hopeless. Only we know the way he really is. I feel like we are my dad’s property once everyone else has gone away.’

Image: Alfonso Scarpa

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