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The role of the NSPCC

By: Angela Armes - Updated: 8 Jun 2021 | comments*Discuss
 
Nspcc National Society For Prevention Of

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is an organisation that has been in existence since 1884.The fundamental goal of the NSPCC is to help reduce – and eventually stamp out – cruelty to children in all its many forms.

Cruelty to Children

Cruelty to children can take on many different forms including:

  • Bullying
  • Psychological abuse
  • Causing mental anguish
  • Malnourishment
  • Abandonment
  • Child abuse
  • The exploitation of minors

The list is not an exhaustive one but aims to cover the most common aspects of what can constitute cruelty to children.

In some cases, the person responsible for the cruelty to these children may not even be aware of the fact that they are causing it. It may simply be that their circumstances are such that they cannot provide their child with a standard of living that the law says is befitting of a child.

What Does the NSPCC do?

The first thing to note about the NSPCC is that it is a charity organisation and is funded entirely on donations from members of the public and donations from other quarters. The NSPCC is not affiliated to any government body and receives no funding from the government – something which is a bone of contention with many.

The NSPCC's primary rule is to raise awareness of child cruelty and also to help bring about changes in the law relating to the care and protection of our children.

The NSPCC operates a public policy and spend a great deal of time lobbying members of parliament in order to bring about change in laws relating to how children are cared for and protected by the law in the UK.

In addition, the organisation also provides help to thousands of families across the UK every year. It operates telephone lines which allow the victims of abuse to speak to someone in confidence about the nature of their problem, as well as help with matters relating to domestic violence.

What Can You Do to Help the NSPCC?

As the NSPCC is a charitable institution, it relies for the most part on donations from members of the public, charitable gifts and donations from companies up and down the country. You can donate money directly from your salary at source if you wish, or can embark on one of the many events that are organised every year in order to raise much needed funds.

If you have an idea for a fundraising event you should contact your local NSPCC office or visit their website at www.nspcc.org.uk for more information on how to go about fundraising and how you can help the NSPCC with practical help such as giving up some of your free time.

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Hi, What will i can do if my neighbour harrassed me because of my 2 year old baby shouting.
Mac - 8-Jun-21 @ 3:43 PM
Hi. My 13 year old has been assaulted by my partner who has been arrested and charged to appear at court. He is threatening to summon my child to court to explain the provocation my child caused him to assault him. My child is certainly unruly, has a poor school record [expelled 3 times due to his misbehaviour]; attended 3 other schools who have expelled him; lies, cheats, bullies, has smoked coccaine and is really difficult to control. He is due to be examined for ADHD and other symptons. My question is: can my child be forced to attend court and be asked questions about his character
JSEA - 15-Jun-19 @ 8:06 AM
Dazza - Your Question:
My Son shouted abuse and spat at a stranger, he is only 7 and has ADHD it was put on fb and im unsure what my rights are on a punishment. Ive never smacked him and I dont want to chastice him but im unsure if its legal to ground him or if im allowed to stop him from walking out the house.

Our Response:
If he's only 7 there is plenty you can do. Make sure he's aware of what he's done wrong and explain it to him in a calm manner. You can use whatever "consequences" you think will work, to try and prevent him from doing it again and to show him that it's not acceptable behaviour, such as reducing his TV/Ipad time etc. It's perfectly legal to "ground" him, but at 7 there's probably a limit to his freedom to simply "walk out of the house" anyway.Smacking is not advised and is unlikely to work.Going forward, make sure you praise and reward good behaviour.
LawAndParents - 21-Aug-17 @ 10:26 AM
My Son shouted abuse and spat at a stranger,he is only 7 and has ADHD it was put on fb and im unsure what my rights are on a punishment.Ive never smacked him and i dont want to chastice him but im unsure if its legal to ground him or if im allowed to stop him from walking out the house.
Dazza - 17-Aug-17 @ 1:24 AM
I AM CONTACTING YOU TO GET SOME ADVICE AND HELP, I LIVE WITH FORSTER CARER I AM THE FIRST BORN IN THE FAMILY, I HAVE FOUR SIBBLINGS ALL IN THE CARE OF SOCIAL SERVICES, MY MOTHER DID TRY HER BEST AND ALSO TO CARE FOR US, THE FAMILY HAD BAD ACCOMODATION AND MY MOTHER WAS ACCUSED OF NEGELECTING, MY MOTHER NEVER NEGLECT US, SHE IS THE BEST MOTHER SHE IS WONDERFUL, THE SOCIAL SERVICES HAS ACCUSED MY MUM WRONGLY AND I WILL FIGTH FOR MUM FOR JUSTICE TO PREVAIL, MY SOCIAL WORKER IS EVIL AND SHE HATES MY MUM IF I DONT GO BACK TO MY MUM I WILL HURT MYSELF THE SOCIAL SERVICES NEED TO TAKE BACK TO MY MOTHER WITHIN 24HRS, GREENWICH SOCIAL SERVICES BAND THE NAME OF THE EVIL SOCIAL WORKER IS JESSICA ANTHRICH, AND HER MANAGER IS LINDA, THEY BOTH ACCUSED MY MUM WRONGLY I NEED MY SIBBLINGS, THEY SEPRATED US THIS REALLY BAD. I LOVE MY MUM SHE IS THE BEST MY NUM IS 07376705946
DEBRA - 2-Jun-17 @ 1:42 PM
Lully - Your Question:
My 8 yr old daughter's father has left a bruise on her leg. What should I do?

Our Response:
Have you asked how the bruise occurred? Was it a direct attack? If so then report it to the police. If the bruise came about as a result of play/sport etc, then of course reporting it the police could have damaging consequences for the child's father so make sure you know all the facts first.
LawAndParents - 4-Jan-16 @ 2:44 PM
My 8 yr old daughter's father has left a bruise on her leg. What should I do?
Lully - 4-Jan-16 @ 10:29 AM
I was wondering if you can me some advice I know some one with twins a boy and a girl they aren't very bright at school there ages are 11 and they aren't aloud to play out of the gate they boy plays ruby on his own all day shout to his made up friends the garden is only small the girl is in the house doing womens jobs( helping mum) the family don't take them to the cinema or to the the swimming bath or parks or any thing to entertaint them but they do go to motor bike show because the father is really into that sort of thing the father is a very loud man and what he says goes and if they don't do as they are told they get sent to bed is that the right way to threat children
superwoman - 9-Aug-15 @ 8:00 AM
As a children's social worker, I am perplexed by the continuing assertions of the NSPCC that they can 'end child cruelty'. I am further baffled by the fact that they retain their statutory powers which were rendered inefective by the LASSA 1970 which created statutory social work teams in Local Authorities. The NSPCC should therefore have been stripped of these powers as they were no longer needed.What annoys me is that they NEVER use their powers of investigation into child abuse when it is referred to them; they merely pass it on to the Local Authority to do that work. They only seem to get involved in the 'investigations' of high profile systemic/organisational abuse which has attracted a lot of media attention.However, each Local Authority has a responsibility to investigate this in their own areas too.In my view, they should not mislead the public by claiming that they directly deal with the referral and investigation when they clearly do not.The only work they do with children/families is not offered consistently and is generally attached to research projects.Essentially, the work they do is a means to an end to attract publicity and donations. They need to start being honest with the public and accept that they are no different to Action for Children or Barnardo's; children's charities who do not have the same statutory powers but do the same 'work' as the NSPCC!
Concerned - 1-Jul-14 @ 4:55 PM
the nspcc are failling children in the system
none - 27-Apr-14 @ 7:52 PM
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