NSPCC raises fears over rise in domestic abuse during lockdown
The NSPCC has raised concerns about an increase in domestic abuse as the average monthly contacts to the children’s charity has soared since last March when the first lockdown began.
The children’s charity helpline is receiving an average of over 30 contacts a day from adults worried about children living with domestic abuse. The monthly average [...]
Roadmap needed for re-opening of schools
The prime minister is being urged to set out a roadmap for re-opening schools to all pupils by the children’s commissioner for England and Solace, the members' network for local government and public sector professionals throughout the UK.
Anne Longfield and Ade Adetosoye, Solace spokesperson for Children and Families, have written to Boris Johnson outlining what [...]
Barnardo’s calls for foster carers as pandemic exacerbates need for stable foster homes
The number of children urgently requiring foster care from Barnardo’s has risen by over a half, the children’s charity has reported.
Between April and December 2020, the number of children referred to Barnardo’s fostering services in England rose by 57% compared to the same period in 2019. The number of referrals to the children’s charity’s fostering [...]
Teens can ‘catch’ bad moods from peers
Young people can catch moods from friends and bad moods are more contagious than good moods, according to a paper published by Oxford and Birmingham Universities.
The authors of the research believe the study could improve understanding of emotional wellbeing and mental health among teenagers.
Author Dr Per Block, of Oxford’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, said: [...]
Too many children are invisible to social care
Too many vulnerable children are still invisible to social care, the children’s commissioner for England has warned.
At the start of the first lockdown in March 2020, schools closed and since then more families have fallen into poverty and all the major risk factors to children – domestic violence, poor parental mental health, and alcohol/substance abuse [...]
COVID creates child poverty timebomb
Child poverty in England will continue to rise during this Parliament unless the government commits to a bold, broad response, the children’s commissioner for England has warned.
The Covid crisis is creating a child poverty timebomb that could see millions more children falling into poverty without urgent help, Anne Longfield warns as she publishes a call [...]
