Be the FULL STOP in SW London and help end child abuse

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On average one child is killed by their parent or carer every week

On average one child is killed by their parent or carer every week in England and Wales – this is the startling reality facing the NSPCC every day in its efforts to stop child abuse.

The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) is the UK's leading charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The charity has been directly involved in protecting children and campaigning on their behalf for over 120 years.

In addition to the 180 community-based projects run by the NSPCC throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the charity also operates a free 24-hour Child Protection Helpline providing information, advice and counselling to anyone concerned about a child's safety. Since the start of 2006 the NSPCC has also operated the free ChildLine service providing help and support to children and young people who want to talk about any problems they might be experiencing.

NSPCC research shows that a significant minority of children suffer serious abuse or neglect at some point. This includes:

· 7% of children experienced serious physical abuse at the hands of their parents or carers during childhood · Three-quarters of sexually abused children did not tell anyone about the abuse at the time, and around a third still had not told anyone about their experience(s) by early adulthood · 31% of children experienced bullying during childhood

This Autumn the NSPCC is calling on over one million people in the UK to help end cruelty to children in its biggest ever mobilisation campaign. We want over a million people to Be the FULL STOP by becoming part of a mass movement who believe cruelty can be ended and are willing to act to make child cruelty stop.

The campaign is supported by TV and billboard advertising which demonstrates that the efforts of NSPCC supporters, whatever form their support takes, really does help to prevent child abuse.

There are a number of ways that people in Putney & Wandsworth can get involved and support the NSPCC’s work, and through your efforts help to prevent child abuse from happening, these include:

· making a donation · becoming a regular giver · becoming a fundraising volunteer · becoming a local campaigner · becoming a ChildLine counsellor or switchboard operator (applies in London only)

                                                    

September 25, 2006