SIR, — I would like to extend my gratitude to readers in Co Down who supported NSPCC Northern Ireland during our recent Childhood Day campaign.
The NSPCC held its second Childhood Day on June 1 and it was a day when all of us stood together in Northern Ireland for every childhood and against abuse.
Throughout May there were dedicated volunteers on streets across Co Down collecting from generous members of the public who supported our campaign by buying badges.
All the money raised in Northern Ireland during Childhood Day will benefit children and young people right across the region.
It is estimated that one in five children in the UK have suffered the horrors of abuse or neglect.
Every day across Northern Ireland, the NSPCC is helping children. In addition to our centres, last year our Speak out. Stay safe programme reached over 67,000 local primary school children and our trained volunteer counsellors at our Childline bases delivered 38,285 counselling session to children in Northern Ireland and across the UK.
Childhood Day may be over but our fundraising efforts continue throughout the year as we urgently need to be there for more children and young people.
Donating just £3 could enable our Speak Out Stay Safe programme to reach another primary school child — giving them the knowledge to protect themselves from abuse and just £4 could answer a child’s call for help to our Childline bases when they feel they have nowhere else to turn.
We urgently need more fundraising volunteers to enable us to be there for local children and young people who need our support at critical and very difficult times in their lives and we would love to hear from anyone who feels they can help in any way. Just a few hours could really make such a difference.
For further information on how you can fundraise or volunteer for NSPCC Northern Ireland email our team at northernirelandappeals@nspcc.org.uk or call 028 9035 1135.
Yours etc,
CATHERINE NUTTALL,
Head of Fundraising, NSPCC
Northern Ireland.