insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 14 - April 2016 | Page 83

CHARITY

SPEAK OUT STAY SAFE WITH

nspcc

Over 40,000 children across the South East of England
have learnt to stay safe from abuse thanks to leading
children’s charity, the NSPCC. They have been learning
about abuse in all its forms, how to stay safe, and who
to go to for help should they ever need it.

With help from Buddy the ChildLine mascot
making visits to local schools, the Speak Out,
Stay Safe campaign delivers essential
safeguarding messages in a lively, interactive and
memorable way. By the end of Buddy’s visit,
children have had fun, feel empowered, and can
speak out and stay safe.
Sarah Walker, area coordinator for the programme
in Kent and Medway, explained: “We know that
at least two children in every primary school
classroom will have experienced some form of
abuse or neglect – a truly shocking statistic.”
Amanda Rocca, area coordinator for the
programme in Sussex, added: “But just imagine
if we could give these children the knowledge to
prevent, the confidence to speak about, and the
courage to seek help if they need it. By visiting
every school every two years we could prevent
children from experiencing abuse, one generation
at a time.”
The service launched in 2011 after research
showed that the majority of children who cont X