This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7625425.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Neighbours 'save abused children' Neighbours 'save abused children'
(about 13 hours later)
At least 7,000 abused children received help last year because the NSPCC was initially alerted by concerned neighbours, the charity has revealed.At least 7,000 abused children received help last year because the NSPCC was initially alerted by concerned neighbours, the charity has revealed.
The NSPCC, which runs a child protection helpline alongside its ChildLine service, said the former received 95,000 calls last year.The NSPCC, which runs a child protection helpline alongside its ChildLine service, said the former received 95,000 calls last year.
But it warns that both helplines are unable to answer every call that comes in because of a lack of trained staff.But it warns that both helplines are unable to answer every call that comes in because of a lack of trained staff.
It is launching a fundraising drive to recruit more counsellors to take calls. It is launching a fund-raising drive to recruit more counsellors to take calls.
Last year, 15,000 calls out of 95,000 made to the Child Protection Helpline went unanswered. The charity has launched a £50m Child's Voice Appeal to train more counsellors so that the helpline can be expanded.Last year, 15,000 calls out of 95,000 made to the Child Protection Helpline went unanswered. The charity has launched a £50m Child's Voice Appeal to train more counsellors so that the helpline can be expanded.
The appeal will also raise money for the NSPCC's well-established ChildLine service, which aims to provide direct help and advice for the victims of abuse. However, it also struggles to cope with the volume of calls it gets - last year it had 2.5m calls with 900,000 going unanswered.The appeal will also raise money for the NSPCC's well-established ChildLine service, which aims to provide direct help and advice for the victims of abuse. However, it also struggles to cope with the volume of calls it gets - last year it had 2.5m calls with 900,000 going unanswered.
Of the calls made to the protection helpline last year, 10,000 were deemed to relate to situations so serious that they needed immediate action. One in three of them were made by worried neighbours.Of the calls made to the protection helpline last year, 10,000 were deemed to relate to situations so serious that they needed immediate action. One in three of them were made by worried neighbours.
'Threatened with axe''Threatened with axe'
Some of the incidents reported by neighbours recently include:Some of the incidents reported by neighbours recently include:
  • A nine-year-old boy who had the barrel of a gun placed in his mouth
  • A young girl being threatened with an axe by her father
  • A homeless 12-year-old who was too afraid to go to sleep in case he woke up to find his alcoholic mum dead
  • A two-year-old child being dangled by the wrist out of a second floor window by her young mother
  • A baby living in a house where the floors were covered with rubbish and dog mess. The milk in its bottle had turned green because it was so old
  • A nine-year-old boy who had the barrel of a gun placed in his mouth
  • A young girl being threatened with an axe by her father
  • A homeless 12-year-old who was too afraid to go to sleep in case he woke up to find his alcoholic mum dead
  • A two-year-old child being dangled by the wrist out of a second floor window by her young mother
  • A baby living in a house where the floors were covered with rubbish and dog mess. The milk in its bottle had turned green because it was so old
Some neighbours reported parents constantly screaming and swearing at their children, while others raised fears for youngsters living in households where drugs were openly used.Some neighbours reported parents constantly screaming and swearing at their children, while others raised fears for youngsters living in households where drugs were openly used.
John Cameron, head of the NSPCC helpline, said: "Every day we deal with tragic stories of children who are living in the most heart-rending and often dangerous conditions. CHILD PROTECTION HELPLINE Free and confidential, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 0808 800 5000 Hi-tech ways to contact ChildLineJohn Cameron, head of the NSPCC helpline, said: "Every day we deal with tragic stories of children who are living in the most heart-rending and often dangerous conditions. CHILD PROTECTION HELPLINE Free and confidential, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 0808 800 5000 Hi-tech ways to contact ChildLine
"Many of them are so young they are helpless, so their only hope is for someone to see how dreadful their lives are and take action to save them."Many of them are so young they are helpless, so their only hope is for someone to see how dreadful their lives are and take action to save them.
"Not all children brought to our attention are at serious risk of harm, but many are in very distressing situations."Not all children brought to our attention are at serious risk of harm, but many are in very distressing situations.
"We were asked to help one five-year-old girl who was so hungry she started eating toilet paper to block out the hunger pangs.""We were asked to help one five-year-old girl who was so hungry she started eating toilet paper to block out the hunger pangs."
'Difficult call''Difficult call'
The NSPCC said at least one in six calls to the helpline could not be answered because counsellors were so overstretched.The NSPCC said at least one in six calls to the helpline could not be answered because counsellors were so overstretched.
And it said most people waited at least a month before calling to help a child.And it said most people waited at least a month before calling to help a child.
The charity is now launching a major fundraising effort in order to expand the helpline. The charity is now launching a major fund-raising effort in order to expand the helpline.
It has also announced plans to enable children to contact its ChildLine service through text messages and the internet.It has also announced plans to enable children to contact its ChildLine service through text messages and the internet.
"It is outrageous that our country's children continue to suffer such cruelty in 2008," Mr Cameron said. "Thankfully, there are many responsible neighbours who are looking out for these children. "It is outrageous that our country's children continue to suffer such cruelty in 2008," Mr Cameron said. "Thankfully, there are many responsible neighbours who are looking out for these children. "I heard running... and the child was shouting, 'Don't, don't, don't'. Concerned neighbour
"But we want more to join them and to call as soon as they suspect something is wrong."But we want more to join them and to call as soon as they suspect something is wrong.
"You might think it's a difficult thing to make a call like that, but in the vast majority of cases the people who rang because they believed the matter was urgent were right.""You might think it's a difficult thing to make a call like that, but in the vast majority of cases the people who rang because they believed the matter was urgent were right."
One neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC Radio 5Live that she felt compelled to contact the NSPCC about a child living next door.
"The night that I rang things had got so bad, I was just so worried," she said.
"I heard running... and the child was shouting, 'Don't, don't, don't'. I was so distraught, I just thought, 'What is happening to that child?' I just had to do something then."
In her case, social services were informed and things have improved.
"I just felt so relieved that I'd done something, that I was taken seriously and they were going to act on it," she said.