NSPCC - Celebrities launch FULL STOP Week
Jonny Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Amir Khan, Rio Ferdinand, Liz McClarnon, Vanessa Feltz and Ashes winner Marcus Trescothick are among those today launching the first ever NSPCC FULL STOP Week (3-9 October).
FULL STOP Week is part of Talk 'til it stops - the NSPCC's latest drive urging people to help stop child cruelty.
Jonny, Sir Alex, Rio and Amir will appear in a new TV advert, encouraging people to act in support of the week. Other celebrities speaking out in support of the NSPCC campaign are: Sally Gunnell, Matt Dawson, Ioan Gruffudd, Tess Daly, Caroline Quentin, and actress Lucy Davis (The Office).
FULL STOP Week launched as a new report reveals that abused children helped by the NSPCC waited an average of two years four months before telling someone about their abuse.
The report found that the children spoke to an average of three people before anyone helped them.* During FULL STOP Week, the NSPCC is sending out packs to nine million adults with advice on how people can act on concerns about a child.
A focal point of FULL STOP Week is a nationwide 'talking relay'. This was launched by TV presenter Donna Air opposite the British Airways London Eye, which is going green to support the week.
NSPCC advice on spotting possible signs of abuse will be projected onto the Shell Building behind the Eye. The relay will take in other key cities like Brighton, Cardiff, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle. It will urge the public to talk to each other about how they can help end child cruelty.
Personalities taking part in the relay include: Welsh Rugby Union Chairman David Pickering, Craig Phillips from TV's Big Brother 1, and actor Chris Ellison (The Bill). They will 'talk on the spot' about what people can do. The 'spot' will be a giant green speech bubble to represent how talking can end abuse.
The NSPCC survey of abused children shows the struggle they face in talking about abuse. 68 children and young people who suffered abuse or domestic violence took part, revealing how they got help and how they wanted adults to act. The study found:
- 59 youngsters (87 per cent) said they were worried about talking to people about their experience of abuse or domestic violence.
- 51 young people (75 per cent) were worried no-one would understand or help them.
- The young people waited, on average, two years four months before telling someone about their abuse, and then for a further nine months before they got help, more than three years altogether. They spoke to an average of three people before anyone helped them. One child waited 11 years before talking, two told at least nine people before they were helped.
- Two thirds of the young people believed adults would know if a young person was being harmed even if no-one told them. Young people said clues could include if a child 'went quiet' or 'had cuts and bruises'.
- When asked how adults should listen to abused children 49 young people suggested a 'one-to-one' conversation (72 per cent), 45 wanted to talk 'in a safe place' (66 per cent), and 43 wanted people to 'take enough time' when listening (63 per cent).
- The young people gave powerful signs that they needed help. One 16-year-old girl said: "I was down and quiet. People who knew me thought something was wrong", another 16-year-old girl said: "I used to self harm, tried setting myself on fire and recently tried taking an overdose."
The public can support FULL STOP Week and join the Talk 'til it stops initiative by:
- Filling out and returning the biggest-ever NSPCC national child protection survey, available at www.talktilitstops.org.uk (and being mailed in a pack to nine million people nationwide)
- Learning signs of possible abuse from advice cards in this pack, passing a card to someone they know and starting their own 'talking relay' about abuse.
- Fundraising for the NSPCC or giving regularly.
- Campaigning by becoming an NSPCC Partner in Campaigning (PiC). Following FULL STOP Week PiCs will be asking the Government to fund public education campaigns to help protect children. To join them please visit www.nspcc.org.uk
- Wearing an NSPCC FULL STOP green badge or wristband**
NSPCC Director, Mary Marsh says: "We know that millions of people across the country are willing to play their part in ending child cruelty, but are often confused about what to do or whether it will make a difference. But every action, however small, counts.
"Most children and young people in our report said they looked to adults to protect them and get help from other people. Taking action in FULL STOP Week and using the advice available will make a difference to children who are suffering in silence.
"Talking is a vital first step. The NSPCC is sending out a survey pack, featuring two advice cards, to nine million households during FULL STOP Week.
By reading the advice card, learning how to identify possible signs of abuse, and passing a card on to a friend, people will be given the confidence to speak out - and 'talk 'til it stops'."
Pop singer Liz McClarnon says: "Child abuse is so horrific it's easy to feel there's nothing we can do to stop it but that's just not true. During the NSPCC's first ever FULL STOP Week, you can join the Talk 'til it stops campaign.
"You can learn how to spot signs of abuse, think about what you'd do if you were worried about a child, give time or money and wear the NSPCC FULL STOP badge to show your support. Talking is powerful - and it's the first step towards making abuse stop."
For further information on the NSPCC FULL STOP Week and to find out how you can support the campaign, visit www.nspcc.org.uk
Notes to editors
*The NSPCC Talk 'til it stops survey (Summer 2005), was conducted by the Nationwide Children's Research Centre. 68 questionnaires were completed by children and young people aged seven to 18 who had experienced abuse or domestic violence.
All the children and young people were being supported by NSPCC's Services for Children and Young People. Many suffered in silence for years before they could speak about their troubles. However, there are also many abused children who do not get help for abuse until they are in adulthood.
We know from other NSPCC research that three-quarters (72 per cent) of sexually abused children did not tell anyone about the abuse at the time, and around a third (31 per cent) still had not told anyone about their experience(s) by early adulthood.
**FULL STOP wristbands are available via the Arcadia group, including Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans, Topman and Outfit.
Individual children's comments are available on request from the NSPCC (contact details below).
Also, Educare is being sent to 220,000 professionals and support staff who work with children in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
The pack will help anyone who has contact with children during their working day know what to do if they have concerns about a child. It also ensures they know how to react if a member of the public approaches them with child protection concerns.
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Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.