Food delivery app service Deliveroo and children’s charity, the NSPCC have today announced a new partnership to help children who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
The partnership will provide hundreds of Deliveroo riders with free training by the NSPCC to help them recognise children at risk of abuse and neglect, and will promote the charity’s helpline number on riders’ delivery bags.
Deliveroo also said it will deliver hundreds of free meals to NSPCC Helpline staff in Belfast and Salford as a thank you for their hard work in keeping children safe during Covid-19.
The free food will be delivered by Sushi and Ramen restaurant Kamakura in Belfast and Pizza Hut in Salford.
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The idea of a partnership was developed when, earlier this year, a rider contacted the NSPCC after becoming worried for a child’s welfare. As a result, action was taken to ensure the child’s safety.
Although the lockdown is easing and some children have returned to school, many children are still spending a lot of time at home and have limited contact with wider support networks.
A new NSPCC report, ‘Isolated and Struggling’, brings together evidence from academics, charities and frontline professionals, and identifies three ways in which lockdown has increased the risk of child abuse.
These involve a reduction in normal protective services, an increase in young people’s vulnerability and an increase in stressors to parents and caregivers.
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To combat the issue the NSPCC have temporarily made their ‘It’s Your Call’ course temporarily free during the pandemic, as well as expanded and promoted the Helpline in response to the situation, which has now received more than 10,000 welfare contacts.
All other NSPCC safeguarding online training has been discounted, to support people during this time.
Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “It is essential that we all play our role in helping to keep children and young people safe. Riders and other workers visiting people’s home during the pandemic have the unique opportunity to see or hear things that others may not.
“Therefore, it is important that they feel confident in knowing what to do if they are concerned about a child. It’s fantastic of Deliveroo to take this positive step with us – together we believe everyone can play a part in keeping children safe.”
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The NSPCC Helpline is available for advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or via help@nspcc.org.uk.
