Bike duo call in at ChildLine in Liverpool during mammoth bike trip to all ChildLine bases in UK

TWO kind-hearted motorbike enthusiasts have stopped off at the NSPCC’s ChildLine base in Liverpool as part of a big biking challenge they’ve undertaken for leading children’s charity, the NSPCC.

Darren Hanna and pal John Walsh rode the length and breadth of the UK during their ‘Short Way Round’ trip – a distance of 2,700 miles in 12 days. Darren is a long-time supporter of the NSPCC and the pair – both keen bikers - agreed to embark on the trip in aid of the charity’s ChildLine service. 

Darren is originally from Blackpool and John from London, but the pair now both live Friockheim, and Carnoustie Angus.

The trip is self-funded but they hope to raise in excess of £1,000 for the NSPCC through sponsorship and donations.

The pair set off from Carnoustie on June 20 and are visited 11 ChildLine bases across mainland Britain during the 12-day road trip, including the Liverpool base on Great Homer Street.

Father of 3, Darren said:- “The NSPCC’s ChildLine service can be a real lifeline for so many children and young people in desperate need of support, protection and help. We stopped off at the NSPCC’s ChildLine base in Liverpool and it was lovely to meet with the staff and volunteers in Liverpool who make the service possible.  We’ve both been excited and nervous at the thought of the journey, as 2,700 miles in 12 days on mainly A and B roads, is a big undertaking. So far the weather has held out it’s good to know that our efforts will help to ensure that the NSPCC work continues and that ChildLine can continue to run.”

Ian McHale, ChildLine Support Services Manager for Liverpool, said:- “It was great to meet Darren and John and offer them a well earned cold drink when they arrived at our base in Liverpool on a gloriously sunny day. We are so grateful to Darren and John for choosing to support the NSPCC and ChildLine. The money they raise will go towards our Child’s Voice Appeal, to expand and develop our national helplines.  The Appeal was launched in 2008 and thanks to public support, we’ve been able to answer more than 1 million calls from children and young people who need help through ChildLine, and over 50,000 from adults who are worried about a child through the NSPCC Helpline.  There is still more work to be done to protect even more children from abuse and neglect. With continued help, we aim to be there whenever and wherever children need us.”

If anybody would like to support Darren and John they can visit:- justgiving.com/shortwayround to make a donation.

JOIN THE d●TS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN

VULNERABLE children are going unnoticed by professionals – as they fail to identify the tell-tale signs of those being groomed for child sexual exploitation says children’s charity Barnardo’s.  GPs, teachers, youth workers and the police need to be made more aware of the risk indicators of these vulnerable children, and be better equipped at spotting those at greatest risk of sexual exploitation.

Key risk indicators include:-

► Disengagement from education; Young people who are not in school during the day may be more at risk of sexual exploitation. Children who are becoming involved in this activity may begin to skip school or become disruptive

► Risky behaviours; Including secretive use of mobile phones and the internet

► Unexplained gifts; Children who appear to have new clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or money that cannot ‘plausibly’ be accounted for

► Peers and friends; Involved in sexual exploitation and with ‘older’ boyfriends/girlfriends

► Drugs/alcohol; drug or alcohol abuse may leave children more vulnerable to sexual exploitation, it is also true to say that ‘abusers’ may use drugs and alcohol to help control children

► Sexual health issues; a history of unprotected sex leading to STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infection) or inappropriate sexual behaviour

The earlier that sexual exploitation, or likelihood of it, can be identified, the more opportunities there are to prevent or minimise the harm suffered by vulnerable children.

Barnardo’s is calling for:-

► Specialist training for professionals working with children in England - to help to them recognise and respond directly to the early signs of child sexual exploitation

► Better co-ordination and information sharing between social services, health, education, specialist services and the police – to ensure the dots are joined in protecting those children at risk

Barnardo’s provides education and training on a local level via Prevention Education Program (PEP) sessions for both young people in schools, pupil referral and residential units, and for social workers, youth workers and teachers across the UK. A four year partnership scheme between London Councils and Barnardo’s is currently being rolled out to ensure that children and their teachers in secondary schools are made aware of the dangers of exploitative relationships. However, this type of provision is not yet universal.

Wendy Shepherd, Children’s Service Manager at Barnardo's SECOS project, said:- ‘If we can identify these children we can significantly reduce the number of children being exposed to these horrific risks. Taken alone, the indicators are not necessarily proof of exploitation, but alarm bells should ring, especially if there are a number of indicators.’

Martin Narey, Barnardo’s Chief Executive, said:- ‘The sexual exploitation of children by adults is a hidden obscenity. There is an understandable tendency to believe this happens very rarely. In fact it’s everywhere, in every town and city in the UK and professionals involved with children need to know the tell tale signs. The earlier abuse is identified, the earlier we can stop it.’

Barnardo’s is highlighting the issues of child sexual exploitation in its TV advertisement which went to air on 1 July 2010.