How the NSPCC works in the area (From Gazette Series)

How the NSPCC works in the area

FOLLOWING your recent article titled No vote to donate money to NSPCC (Gazette, April 22), as a local volunteer for the NSPCC, I would like to explain how the society works in Gloucestershire.

It was mentioned that Wotton Town Council only gives to local charities. The NSPCC, although it is a national charity, has local fundraising committees working hard around the country which includes the West Gloucestershire branch for which I am chairman.

We are providing services for local children- for example, during 2004, 1388 calls were made to our 24 hour Child Protection Helpline from the GL postcode area, and we have a team of practitioners based in Gloucester Docks who work in partnership with the police and social services to undertake complex and large scale child abuse inquiries throughout Gloucestershire and the South West.

We also campaign on both local and national levels for children's rights, and visit schools throughout the area explaining what the NSPCC does. During a recent NSPCC campaign around 30 Gloucestershire secondary schools requested free copies of our 'Worried? Need to Talk?' booklet.

Without our volunteer fundraising and the generosity of the general public, the NSPCC would not be here as 84 percent of our income is from voluntary donations and fundraising, and I daren't think about the NSPCC not being available for children to turn to if and when they need to. The Society was started in 1884, and it is very sad that we still need to be here over 120 years later.

If any of your readers would like any further information about the NSPCC or would be interested in fundraising for us, please contact our local appeals manager Lisa Clift on 01452 423743.

Marilyn Hughes NSPCC volunteer and West Glos branch chairman.