Press Releases

28 January 2010

An average of five girls a day (1,986) called ChildLine last year about sexual abuse by their father.

The figure is being released as the hard-hitting film 'Precious' opens in the UK tomorrow (29 Jan). The BAFTA-nominated film tells the story of an abused sixteen-year-old girl called Precious. Precious is pregnant for the second time by her absent father, and is severely physically and emotionally abused by her mother. The film is set in New York in 1987, the year after ChildLine, now a service of the NSPCC, launched in the UK.

ChildLine founder and president Esther Rantzen says: "This film conveys the hopelessness of a child or young person who is being sexually abused, physically abused, and emotionally destroyed, within her own family.

"People sometimes find it difficult to understand why children and young people are imprisoned in their own suffering and cannot ask for help. This film explains it.

"However, children in the UK have the lifeline of the free, 24-hour helpline and online service that ChildLine provides. It's essential that children know ChildLine exists, that calls are safe and confidential, and that we are there for them all day, every day of the year."

Precious has a 15 certificate and Esther is urging any teenagers who see the film and are affected by the issues to call ChildLine immediately on 0800 1111, or get help online at www.childline.org.uk 

Esther is also asking any adult who is worried about a child to call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000.

In the film Precious lives a chaotic life and can neither read nor write. With the help of a dedicated literacy teacher (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

Esther Rantzen continued: "Precious didn't have a ChildLine to help her but we are here for children in the UK. For them, the ChildLine counsellor is that special person - the one who helps them speak out and gives them hope for a new life free from abuse."

In the last ten years, ChildLine counsellors have helped more than 100,000 sexually abused children. Sexual abuse is still one of the main reasons children get in touch. For many, it is the first time they have told anyone about their ordeal.

Most girls who call ChildLine about sexual abuse are aged 12 to 15 years, but the youngest caller was just five years old. Two thirds (67%) of the girls who call ChildLine about sexual abuse say they have been raped.

One girl, aged just 11, called ChildLine and said: "I'm scared at home, scared of my dad. I feel angry and sick…he raped me, it just happened. Mum won't believe me. She always believes what Dad says. It happened before when I was six…I want to kill myself."

Another girl aged 14 said: "My dad raped me. It happened last night. It happens whenever he's drunk and when Mum works late. I haven't told anyone. Dad says it isn't wrong to do what he did to me."

The NSPCC is growing its helplines through public support of the Child's Voice Appeal but it still can't answer every child's call. Everyone can help support at www.nspcc.org.uk/childsvoiceappeal.

Ends

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Notes to editor:
1. Last year (April 2008 to March 2009) ChildLine, the UK's free 24-hour helpline for children and young people, counselled 12,268 children about sexual abuse as their main reason for calling. This represents 8 per cent of all calls answered and the fourth largest main reason for children calling ChildLine that year.

2. Of the 12,268 children calling ChildLine about sexual abuse last year 3,503 of the children did not identify whether their abuser was male or female. Of those who identified their abuser, the most commonly identified perpetrators were:

• Father - 1,986 girls and 986 boys
• Mother - 332 girls and 979 boys
• Male acquaintance - 698 girls and 127 boys
• Stranger - 470 girls and 142 boys

3. In total, 7,282 children said the perpetrator was a family member and of this total, of the perpetrators were fathers and 11 per cent were mothers. Only 5 per cent of the perpetrators were strangers. Nine per cent of children did not disclose information about the perpetrator.

4. Of children calling ChildLine about sexual abuse last year 3,655 girls and 1,878 boys said they had been raped.

5. More information about children calling ChildLine about sexual abuse here

6. In ChildLine terminology, 'sex abuse' includes rape, sexual touching, harassment, indecency, incest, organised abuse. Some children calling ChildLine said they had been raped, others that they had been sexually abused. The ChildLine counsellors make a decision on whether it is rape depending on what has been described to them.

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. It helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.

About the Child's Voice Appeal
The government has pledged £30m over four years towards the expansion of ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline, but the NSPCC needs the support of the public to raise a further £50m through the Child's Voice Appeal, to make its vision to answer many more cries for help a reality. Everyone can support the Child's Voice Appeal at www.childsvoiceappeal.org.uk. To date the appeal has raised £20.6m