By ANISAH ARIF
Bradford City Hall is lighting up green today and tomorrow to support the NSPCC’s “Light for Every Childhood” Christmas campaign, which will this year focus on child neglect.
The funds raised for the charity’s ‘ Christmas appeal will help the NSPCC keep children safe from abuse and neglect this Christmas and all year round. The charity is being backed by a host of UK cities, with a number of landmarks turning NSPCC-green this Christmas, to show their support for this worthy campaign.
1 in 10 children in the UK have endured suffered abandonment. This Christmas, the NSPCC wants to explore this issue further which too often is ingored and goes unseen, leaving children feeling invisible, unloved and alone.
Figures that were revealed last month show that 176 children in Bradford alone were subject to a child protection plan in the year 2017-2018 because of neglect.
Nearly a third of all calls to the NSPCC helpline last year are related to neglect, a figure that is higher at Christmas. Neglect is the most common form of child abuse and the trauma can last a lifetime.
The NSPCC is a leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. Using volutary donations, which make up around 90 per cent of their funding, NSPCC support children around the UK who have been abused to rebuild their lives.
NSPCC are raising awareness to this cause by selling star pin badges and bracelets which could help fund a call to their helpline, to shine a light on a child that is being neglected, and get them the help they need.
The NSPCC’s community fundraising manager for Yorkshire, Elaine Kaye said: “It is fabulous that the City Hall will be lighting up green and I am sure it will be a real beacon for our fantastic fundraisers. I also hope it will shine a light of hope for all those children facing neglect at Christmas and indeed all year round.
“Please buy your star bracelet today from selected branches of Matalan or visit the NSPCC’s online Christmas shop.”
Councillor Adrian Farley, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Children and Families, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support this campaign and hope that it helps highlight an important issue at this time of year.”
It is hoped the new campaign will help to highlight how one child in every ten suffers from this form of abuse. As part of the campaign the charity is also encouraging the public to get involved, with December being the month to ‘Get Your Sparkle On,’ and text to donate to the NSPCC.
The new fundraising initiative asks people to get all their friends and family together; dress-up in a glitzy outfit or decorate their face with eco-glitter and donate £3 to the NSPCC by texting SPARKLE to 70007
The Childline service provides a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help. Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our free NSPCC helpline provides adults with a place they can get advice and support, share their concerns about a child or get general information about child protection. Adults can contact the helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
During 2016/17, NSPCC spent £91 million on services and activities to make children and young people safer. This includes working with children and families, help lines, school services and their children protection and awareness campaign such as Share Aware.
