Local teens are barred from using NSPCC’s text helpline
Tuesday 24th May 2011, 2:29PM BST.
NEWS that Guernsey teens are cut off from a national NSPCC text helpline has disturbed the Health and Social Services Department.
But the national charity said islanders could still call its national helpline or go online to receive advice.
Recently, a new five-digit NSPCC text service for reporting abuse was advertised throughout the British Isles.
But shortly after being advertised locally it was revealed that the number was inaccessible to Channel Islanders.
HSSD said the fact the number did not work was disturbing – particularly as children were more likely to make a call from a mobile phone than from a landline in their home.
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You cannot call 5 digit numbers, only text. But more to the point, why don’t the cell-providers such as Sure and Airtel unblock these 5 digit numbers?
Not only will I mean that I can sext with reckless abandon to women in far flung places but I will also be able to text the NSPCC when it all goes wrong.
Come on Sure, get on with it!
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How many children actually use these services?
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Mr G, Why? If it helps 1 young person then does that justify it? It should not be about numbers should it?
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NSPCC would have been asked which operators they want the code active on during the creation process, they have selected O2, T-Mobile, Orange, 3 and Vodafone
Cost approx 1100gbp a month
If they wish they could have also selected guernsey companies during the sign up process and paid £400-600 more and it would have worked fine.
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It shouldn’t and doesn’t matter how many children use these services Mr G, the point is that they are being denied access to a national service. I seriously think that Guernsey needs to look at a local service to help children, rather than rely on the NSPCC who appear to be locally unreliable. What does the rest of the public think?
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Mark has a good point. Having to rely on the NSPCC based in the UK is not satifactory. There should be a local chilrens helpline backed by the States.
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Mark
According to the NSPCC website, this is the service they provide:
“You can text the NSPCC Helpline from your phone on 88858 any time, day or night, 365 days a year. We will aim to read and respond to your text within three hours. You will receive a personal reply, by text, from one of our Helpline advisers. The service is free.”
I do see your point however to set up an equivalent local service would require a 24/7 call centre and infrastructure. I would presume this would also need staffing by people with some experience in child care issues.
If pbfalla’s figures are correct, perhaps a more viable and cost effective method would be for the States to make an offer to the NSPCC to subsidise local access to the NSPCC helpline?
They already have the national infrastructure in place after all.
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Let’s just say that that there is a fully operational NSPCC helpline for young people in Guernsey.
What do you think happens if there is a report of abuse that needs to be followed up? They will need to contact Social Services locally and now that the NSPCCC are no longer operational how does that work?
I have considered that they just make a call! But I know that it is not as simple as that.
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The NSPCC Helpline service is for adults that have concerns about a child, not for children to contact directly.
Children under the age of 18 should contact ChildLine which can be accessed by phone, text, online or email.
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It’s disappointing to see that for an Island that generates huge amounts of donations for local, English and International charities is virtually ignored by one of the largest English Charities.
Time and time again Guernsey folk throw money into these large overseas organisations and are taken for mugs when services are divied out.
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Neil – I do see your point to a degree but I don’t think it’s a case of being taken for mugs. Many people donate to overseas organisations knowing full well their money will be used outside the island.
I don’t see why national charities like the NSPCC should feel obliged to provide a service locally simply because a lot of donations come from here. In my view when you give money to a charity you are giving them reasonable free reign to use it as they choose. If you don’t like the way they use it, don’t give any more.
On the other hand if you give expecting something in return it’s no longer really giving. Donations with strings attached are at their worst a sort of bribery.
I think the answer is simple. If people want their donations to be used locally they should give to a local charity, or one that at least has a local presence.
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Paul
On reflection probably a bit harsh.
Agree regarding local donation and a list of them are available at http://www.charity.org.gg/
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I for one was very disappointed to learn last Summer (?) that NSPCC were pulling out of Guernsey. No doubt those involved in our various child welfare systems had recieved prior notification, the majority of us got to hear about this via GEP.
I call upon Deputy Mike Hadley, a well known and fearless representative to put this matter to the States at the earliest opportunity, in order to set up and maintain a childline which works.
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@ Paul le Page
I agree with your comments to Neil. Lots of Islanders willingly give to charitable causes knowing that their donations will be used off Island and throughout the world, where there are many desperate and deserving causes.
I am very comfortable to stand in the streets and outside supermarkets and stores, with a tin, well knowing that anything anyone is able to donate will be used outside the Island.
As for local fund raising; when I have helped to man stalls and so forth at various events, people are equally happy to give what they can, some do question if their donations will fully go toward Island needs and I always assure them, yes.
@ Neil
This is not a mugs’ game, wherever donations are used. I like your posts generally, but sometimes you do tend to want to throw a spanner in, maybe for more reactions? We already have the likes of Mr G on this forum, who just loves to try out inflamatory, strange comments for the very same reason. Leave him to it, poor soul.
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