NSPCC in Plymouth receives funding boost to help protect children from harm
The NSPCC in Plymouth has received a £25,000 donation from retail chain The Range to help the charity still be here for the children, young people and families its workers support.
The service centre in Cattedown has long provided therapeutic support for children who have been sexually abused, and workers have continued to provide support virtually to these young people throughout lockdown.
Sexual abuse can have a devastating and long-term impact on children and since 2011, the NSPCC’s Letting the Future In programme has helped young people in and around Plymouth to rebuild their lives and move forward from what has happened.
Its preventative Turn the Page service has been running for the same length of time, offering support to children and young people displaying harmful sexual behaviour.
Strategic Service Centre Manager for the NSPCC in Plymouth, Oliver Mackie says: “We are extremely grateful to The Range for this donation at a time when the charity’s income has dropped significantly as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This money will help us to be able to continue our work with local children, young people and their families whose lives have been impacted by sexual abuse, and our preventative work in communities protecting children from harm in the future.”
The charity’s preventative work includes the Together for Childhood programme, which is being piloted in Ernesettle. The NSPCC has teamed up with more than 30 organisations and voluntary groups in the city to deliver the work, which is reinforcing simple safeguarding messages in communities to build confidence in adults to protect children from abuse.
The NSPCC’s service centre in Jersey has also received a £25,000 donation from The Range for its work in the Channel Islands, with a further £20,000 donated to the wider charity.
Chief Executive Officer at The Range, Alex Simpkin says: “This year we have collectively donated over £190,000 to charities close to The Range’s heart, including the NSPCC Plymouth and NSPCC Jersey. It’s a privilege to be able to help this incredible charity through difficult times and we are proud to do so.”
The NSPCC relies on public donations for 90% of its income and in order to continue supporting children through lockdown and adapt to the ever-changing situations, it launched an emergency appeal ‘We’re still here for children’.
The charity continues to urge the public to visit its website anddonate £10 to help fund vital services like Childline, so that the charity can continue to be here for the young people who need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.
For more information about the services offered by the NSPCC in Plymouth contact the service centre on 01752 422577 or viaPlymouth.Servicecentre@nspcc.org.uk.
Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free and confidential advice on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk
Children can contact Childline for free on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk 365 days a year, and speak to a counsellor about a worry or concern they may have.
