Charity: NSPCC
The FULL STOP campaign was launched in 1999 as a response to the statement that ‘Child abuse and neglect can almost always be prevented, provided the will to do so is there’. It was the NSPCC’s memorable attempt to raise £250 million over their usual fundraising sum. In March 2007 the campaign was ended as it had been successful, and the NSPCC used the money to support thousands more children in need.Around 36% of all rapes reported to the police are against children under the age of 16, 25% of young people have reported experiencing physical abuse in their childhood and nearly 60% of children killed by another person in England and Wales are aged under five years old.
These are shocking statistics, and have prompted the NSPCC to develop 6 fundamental principles, which govern what this charity does for abused children. The first of these is that children are protected from all forms of exploitation and abuse. Secondly, that everyone is responsible for caring for and protecting children. Thirdly, that everyone must listen to and respect the views of young people, treating them equally. Fourthly that children are enabled to fulfil their potential. Fifthly that any injustice towards children is challenged and lastly that every child has someone whom they can turn to in times of need.
The NSPCC’s ultimate aims are to end cruelty to children for good, support families and raise awareness about child abuse.
Going back to 1889, Parliament passed the first law against the mistreatment of children. Benjamin Waugh had founded the London SPCC (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) five years prior to this in 1884, and once this law was passed the London SPCC became the NSPCC (the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children).
There are a variety of options for donating to the NSPCC with the most common being a monthly donation of £2, £5, £10 plus and one-off donations of £20, £25, £100 or more. These donations can go towards helping a Child Protection officer answer distressed children’s calls, work one on one in schools, and give treatment sessions involving expressive dolls to help children overcome their troubles.
The list of ways to help the NSPCC doesn’t end here. The full stop campaign sees a list of ‘deeds’ that the public can carry out to gain a safer environment for children to live in. These include signing petitions for a safer Internet, wearing a ‘full stop’ badge to promote the charity and getting involved in local campaigns amongst many others.
Filed under: Childrens Charities