With Christmas just days away, the NSPCC is warning that for thousands of children the festive season brings fear and harm, rather than celebration.
The charity have revealed today (19th December) that they’re preparing to respond to thousands of child protection concerns during the holiday period.
Last December, the NSPCC Helpline received 5,384 contacts from adults worried about a child’s welfare. Around three quarters of those contacts related to emotional, physical or sexual abuse, including online abuse as well as neglect.
Parents and carers made up around a third of all contacts, while neighbours and other members of the public accounted for about a fifth.
Demand remained high across the 12 days of Christmas. From Christmas Eve to the 4th January, the helpline handled almost 2,000 child welfare concerns via phone and email. One in six of these contacts were deemed so serious that practitioners referred them to local authorities or emergency services.
One caller told the helpline: ‘I’m calling about the family next door. It’s just the parents and their child who’s around three or four. i can hear them shouting and screaming such awful things at the child, and at each other, pretty much every day.
‘It seems like it’s been getting worse over Christmas. This is no place to raise a child. Is there anything you can do to help?’
Children themselves are also reaching out for support. Childline – founded by the NSPCC – delivered more than 2,700 counselling sessions related to abuse last winter, with young people contacting the service about a wide range of concerns.
One 13-year-old told Childline: ‘I’m scared of visiting my mum on Christmas. She and her sisters call me names and yell at me. They told me I won’t get any presents because of how I behaved this year, but all my siblings will. It’s so unfair!’
In response, the NSPCC has launched a Christmas campaign to highlight how the festive season can be the most dangerous time of year for some children. The initiative is inspired by Sarah, a survivor of abuse.
‘Christmas Day used to be so special to me, I used to love dressing up in nice dresses and jewellery, then one day I never wanted to dress up again because my father assaulted me while wearing a new skirt,’ Sarah said. ‘He would use the festive period as another way to exert power over me and manipulate me.
‘He would make me ‘earn’ my presents each year, which he often ended up selling when he ran out of money.
‘I was nine when I first called Childline to disclose my abuse and ended up speaking to a wonderful counsellor who made me feel listened to and safe. These conversations encouraged me to seek further support and, eventually, my father was convicted of his crimes against me.’
Kam Thandi, NSPCC helpline director, added: ‘We know that Christmas can place extra pressures on people – financial strain, increased alcohol consumption, families spending more time together in close quarters – can all contribute to situations where children are at risk.
‘Behind every one of the contacts we receive throughout December is an adult who cared enough to speak up, and in many cases, that call has led to vital interventions to protect a child.
‘While the NSPCC Helpline is there for adults, our Childline service is also available to all children to talk about their concerns. Trained counsellors are here 24/7, including throughout the festive period, to listen to young people’s concerns and provide advice.’
Childline is available 24 hours a day on 0800 1111 and online via the Childline website.
Image: Shuuterstock
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