NSPCC EduCare partnership hits child protection landmark

The NSPCC has trained 250,000 people from thousands of organisations* to spot and report child safety concerns this decade, the charity has revealed.

Over the last 10 years, the Society has produced 11 child protection training programmes with distance learning providers EduCare. Programmes include basic Child Protection Awareness, Keeping Children Safe in Sport, Preventing Bullying Behaviour and Safer Recruitment and Selection.

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs, the Royal Armouries Museum and the UK Youth Parliament are among those trained. Schools, councils, sports clubs, emergency services' departments, prison and probation services and healthcare bodies across the country have also ordered programmes.

NSPCC director of training and consultancy, Enid Hendry said: "We are incredibly encouraged that so many groups understand the need to undergo this training. Their staff are now in a better position to recognise and report abuse and ensure that a child's safety remains paramount.

She continued: "It's everyone's responsibility to protect children. From the head teacher to the dinner lady, the sports club manager to the part time volunteer. NSPCC Educare programmes help equip everyone to play their part in keeping children safe."

Managing Director of EduCare, Keir McDonald said: "We have a wonderful team of committed staff, each one making a unique contribution to this work and I am both thrilled for them and proud of their achievements. Abuse scars for life and the price that the child and society pays is immeasurable. We must never accept the excuse of 'we thought the child was being abused, but didn't know what to do about it'.

"Our job is to eliminate ignorance and provide people with the knowledge and confidence to act if they feel that a young person is suffering abuse. Over 250,000 people will now understand how their intervention can help. If what we have done means that just one child has been saved from becoming another victim, our work will have been worth it."

All training programmes are available in hard copy and online. Child Protection Awareness can be ordered in Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Welsh as well as English.

Participants who complete a programme receive an NSPCC certificate. For further information, visit www.nspcc.org.uk/educare

Ends

NSPCC media office 020 7825 2514 Out of hours 07976 206 625

Notes to editor
(*) Organisations that have ordered NSPCC EduCare child protection training programmes:
Almost 3,000 schools
Over 350 colleges / universities
Over 200 local councils
Almost 1,500 healthcare organisations
Over 30 ambulance services
Over 40 fire services

About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity specialising in child protection and its vision is to end cruelty to children. The NSPCC runs projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about the safety of a child.

About EduCare
Since 1999 EduCare distance-learning programmes have given a wide range of professionals working with children a greater awareness of child protection issues, plus the skills to recognise when a child needs help and know how to act appropriately.

The NSPCC and EduCare have a long-standing relationship in producing modular learning resources for people who come into contact with children and young people in the course of their work or voluntary activities.