As patron member of the NSPCC it was a pleasure to be invited as a key speaker to Stonyhurst College to
raise awareness about the good work being done in Blackpool and the current appeal to raise £2.5 million over the next 5 years.
The NSPCC exists to end cruelty to children. It is there to
protect children, to stand up for their rights, to listen to them, help them
when they need it and take action for them to ensure they can look forward to
better and brighter futures. I am incredibly proud to support their vital work
with children, young people and families here in the North West.
The NSPCC recently announced their new approach to ending cruelty,
which will see them developing groundbreaking services directly to children
delivered from centres across the UK, and I am delighted that in Lancashire our
centre will be in Blackpool. It is clear
why the NSPCC needs a strong presence in the town for the following reasons:-
· The town
has a high population density which means we can reach more children and
families.
· In 2010, Blackpool
was rated the 6th most deprived town in the country; the 2011 Multiple
Deprivation index is likely to rate them the most deprived town.
· To date
in 2011/2012 Blackpool has more children subject to child protection plans than
their statistical neighbours/northwest counterparts. This is higher than
average in England.
· More than
45% of children on child protection plans are registered under the category of
neglect alone.
· Blackpool
has a high population of Looked after Children; this is significantly higher
than their statistical neighbours/northwest counterparts and higher than
average in England.
The Blackpool Service Centre will be at the forefront of child
protection practice, pioneering new work for children, including therapeutic
work with young people affected by alcohol and substance misuse, and preventing
non-accidental head injuries in babies under one. The newly created centre will
work alongside the NSPCC’s national services for young people, including ChildLine
and the NSPCC Helpline, which in 2011 made 20,546 referrals involving more
than 40,000 children & the new ChildLine
Schools service, which aims to reach out to 500,000 children of primary school
age by 2016. By Easter in Lancashire the
Schools Service programme will have been delivered in 30 schools, and to over 1700
children. Nationally we have delivered to 500 schools, and to over 36,000
children.
NSPCC will be developing new projects for children that demonstrate how best to
protect them from abuse and will rigorously evaluate that work so that they can continuously improve the services for children and leverage their knowledge and experience to enhance child protection everywhere. This evidence will
also be used rigorously to influence positive
change for all children across the UK through public awareness and campaigning
activity.
As I said at the start, I am incredibly proud to be
associated with the work of the NSPCC and I would like you all to join me, by
thinking about how you can help those desperate children, young people and
families in Blackpool and across Lancashire tonight either personally, through
your company or by joining me on a Fundraising Board to drive this £2.5m appeal forward over the next 5
years.
