The NSPCC, correctly known as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is the UK's leading charity [1] specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. It has been active since 1884 and was founded as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty and Better Protection of Children by Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts. Other co-founders included Benjamin Waugh, Herbert Spencer, and Nathan Marcus Adler.

It has been offered royal patronage but has always declined in order to keep its identity clearly separate from the similarly named RSPCA ( Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

The NSPCC's administrative headquarters are in Shoreditch, London (Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH).

The NSPCC employs 1,800 people.

In 2002/2003 it had an income of £100.3 million and expenditure of £90.6 million.

Activities

• Community-based teams and projects throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Free, 24-hour Child Protection Helpline
• Public education campaigns,
• Parliamentary campaigns.
• Child protection training and advice for organisations involved in the care, protection and education of children.
• Research into the nature and effects of child abuse.
• Information resources on child protection and related topics for professionals, the press and the general public.
• Fundraising through individual and corporate supporters,
• Involvement of celebrities, including Victoria Beckham, Peter Andre and others in support of the charity's causes.

Values

The NSPCC's core values are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

They are:

• Children must be protected from all forms of violence and exploitation
• Everyone has a responsibility to support the care and protection of children
• We listen to children and young people, respect their views and respond to them directly
• Children should be encouraged and enabled to fulfil their potential
• We challenge inequalities for children and young people
• Every child must have someone to turn to

External link

• NSPCC Homepage