Children's charity referrals surge by 40% in lockdown

Home has become “increasingly unsafe” for children as alerts to police and councils have surged 40% in lockdown, according to a charity.

NSPCC Scotland’s helpline has made more than 480 referrals to Scottish agencies in three months of lockdown.

During the past three months, the helpline has heard from more than 22,000 adults across the UK concerned about the wellbeing of a child.

It is an increase of almost a third – 32% – on the monthly average for the three months prior to lockdown, with May seeing 8,287 contacts – the highest to the adult helpline in a month on record.

Matt Forde, NSPCC Scotland head of service, said: “The increase in referrals from our helpline during the lockdown highlights how some families have been driven to crisis point and the home has become an increasingly unsafe place for some children.

“It is vital that children are now supported to help them recover from any mental and physical harm that many will have suffered these past few months.

“Government’s role is crucial, and it must put in place a detailed recovery plan that makes sure children and young people can receive the expert help they need if they have had difficult or damaging experiences.

“Putting children at the heart of recovery planning and taking this action quickly will mean the crisis of the last three months does not scar the childhoods of a whole generation.”

NSPCC Scotland figures show that in April, May and June, the helpline made a monthly average of 161 referrals – compared to an average of 114 in the three months prior to lockdown.

The charity is now calling on the Scottish Government to urgently commit to a children’s recovery plan.