Since schools and education settings have closed, referrals to children’s social services have fallen dramatically.
Covid-19 lockdown has created a hidden group of potentially at-risk children who are having much less interaction with statutory services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyone’s lives. It’s created numerous new and unprecedented safeguarding concerns. The NSPCC has reported receiving a range of new queries to the helpline. These range from worries about domestic abuse, through to parents needing support with their children’s mental health and behaviour.
To help protect these children, the NSPCC is receiving £1.6 million of government funding to expand and promote the helpline. The NSPCC are still here for children, and this service is open every day with free support for anyone who’s worried about a child – over the phone, via email or through their online form.
To access the helpline, call 0808 800 5000 (8am-10pm Mon-Fri/9am-6pm weekends) or email help@nspcc.org.uk at any time.