02 July 2009

Rachel Wardell - the first person in Antony Gormley's One & Other exhibition on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth - is calling on people to support her stand against child cruelty on Monday 06 July at 9am.

Rachel will spend the first hour of the exhibition holding a Giant Green Lollipop to raise awareness of the work of the NSPCC Helpline and ChildLine.

Rachel today (02 July) posted messages on the NSPCC's Twitter and Facebook pages asking people to send their own messages of support.

Rachel says: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I want to spend my hour on the Plinth doing something for children. As a mother to two young children, I find it hard to believe that anyone can be cruel to a child. Yet, last year alone, 69 children died from abuse or neglect in this country.

"There are so many children out there suffering terrible abuse in silence. I care passionately that we all do what we can to end this cruelty.

"I don't want this to be all gloom and doom - I want to get out a message of hope. The NSPCC Helpline is there to help adults - parents, friends, neighbours and others - take the first steps to protect those children who can't speak out. I'd also like any children or young people who see me on the Plinth to know they can phone ChildLine about their problems, if they have no one else to talk to.

"The more people help me get out this message, the more we can help children. For one hour on Monday I'll be holding a Giant Green Lollipop up high in Trafalgar Square. Please tweet and retweet messages of support on the NSPCC Twitter page (www.twittercom/thenspcc ) and add your voice to the NSPCC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nspcc). And please, please ask all your friends and family to do the same."

One & Other is commissioned by the Mayor of London in partnership with Sky Arts. Watch all the action live from the plinth every Friday at 7pm on Sky Arts 1/HD and online at www.oneandother.co.uk

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NSPCC Media Office 020 7825 2514 Out of Hours 07976 206 625

About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK's leading children charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC's purpose is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. 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. The NSPCC helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.