Concerns to NSPCC helpline about child abuse soar, with monthly average referrals to agencies in Wales rising by 79% since lockdown – sparking Christmas warning

• Latest figures show that the monthly average number of UK contacts to the NSPCC helpline about child abuse is 43% higher than before the first lockdown
• Monthly average of referrals from NSPCC helpline to external agencies in Wales about the abuse of children up 79% since before the pandemic
• Almost a third of all referrals made to agencies in Wales post April about child abuse relate to neglect
• The NSPCC is highlighting the vital role its team of professionals and volunteer counsellors will play to support children over the festive period, urging the public to support its Here for Children Christmas Appeal

The number of referrals being made each month to agencies in Wales from the NSPCC helpline about the abuse of children has, on average, risen by almost 80% since lockdown.

It comes as the children’s charity reveals how concerns about child abuse across the UK have soared since national lockdown measures were first introduced – with the monthly average number of contacts to the charity’s helpline on the issue increasing by 43%.

Since April, the helpline has received 31,359 contacts from adults UK-wide anxious about child abuse or neglect, referring half (50%) of these on to external agencies like the police and social services to take further action.

Concerned adults in Wales have been amongst those contacting the charity’s helpline, resulting in 923 referrals about child abuse to agencies in Wales between April and November 2020 – with 301 of them relating to neglect.

On average, that’s a 79% increase of overall child abuse referrals in Wales per month since the first national lockdown was imposed, with an average of 115 referrals made each month compared to the pre-lockdown average of 64.

“I am concerned about a boy who lives next door. Just now I heard the father screaming and shouting and I heard the father say, “Shut up, you ***” towards his 3-year-old son. This led to the boy crying constantly. The parents have no concern for their child, I’ve noticed the boy is regularly left in the garden for hours on end unsupervised. There is also an excess of bin bags all ripped in the back garden; I only noticed this because of the smell that was emanating from it. It makes me sad and upset seeing the boy treated like this.”

(Member of the public from Wales)

“I am worried about my son who lives with their father. The child’s father is unable to have a proper conversation about anything. The house is always a mess with lots of rubbish everywhere and my son is normally left to fend for himself. I’m worried about the impact this is having on his emotional well-being. I can’t keep quiet about this anymore, it’s really worrying me, what should I do?

(Mother from Wales)

The NSPCC has analysed its data from April to November and has found that the level of concern about emotional abuse, neglect, and physical abuse UK-wide remains well above the pre-pandemic average.

Contacts from adults across the UK about children experiencing emotional abuse saw the biggest spike, rising by 82% when compared to pre-lockdown levels. Worries about children suffering neglect and physical abuse have also increased by well over a third and were the two most common forms of abuse that people shared concerns about.

As the festive period fast approaches, the NSPCC has issued the findings as a warning that Christmas can be a very difficult time for children suffering abuse and neglect, and the impact of the Coronavirus could put even more children at risk.

To highlight this, more than 60 iconic buildings across the UK, including Cardiff Castle and Cardiff City Hall are illuminating green this December in a huge demonstration of support for the charity’s recently launched Christmas Appeal.

To help protect children stuck at home in environments that are not safe, the charity is urging the public to search “NSPCC” and donate £20 via it’s Here for Children Christmas appeal page.

Kamaljit Thandi, Head of NSPCC helpline said:

“These figures highlight the increase in the number of adults reaching out with concerns about the welfare of children since the first national lockdown began.

“It’s no secret that this Christmas is going to be a very different one and for thousands of children, being stuck at home for the holidays will be a terrifying thought. At the NSPCC, we know how important it is that people have the opportunity to speak up when they think a child is at risk of abuse and neglect. Our helpline for adults and Childline will be open every day over the festive period.”

NSPCC Cymru has worked with Welsh Government on age-appropriate bilingual leaflets* promoting Childline that are available to every school to help provide support for professionals and support children to know their rights and how to disclose, should they ever have a worry or concern.

Cathy Brown, a volunteer counsellor at Childline in Wales said:

“At Childline we know how important it is that we are here for children over the Christmas period. We are there for young people when they need the service the most and for many – Christmas will be that time. The pandemic has had a huge impact on young people and for the many who will have nowhere else to turn, we will provide a vital listening ear.”

As well as its recovery plan put in place to ensure children are given the support that they need, NSPCC Cymru is urging Welsh Government to encourage the public to be extra vigilant, especially during the Christmas holidays and now that secondary schools are closed, with some primary schools choosing to do the same. This will help ensure children and families can get the help they need in the short and long term.

To avoid this crisis having a lasting impact on a generation of children in Wales, it is crucial that the Welsh Government invests long term funding to support them to recover from adverse and traumatic experiences during lockdown and to rebuild their lives.

The charity’s team of professionals working on its helpline for concerned adults and the dedicated volunteer counsellors at Childline will all play a vital role in being here for children this Christmas.

Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 from 7.30am to midnight from Monday to Friday or 9am to midnight on weekends. Or they can get in touch via www.childline.org.uk.

Anyone with any concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC Helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk or visit nspcc.org.uk for advice.