The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), whose logo proudly appears on the front of Derby County’s first-team shirts, is warning of an increased risk of domestic abuse during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Since being formed in 1884, coincidentally the same year as Derby County was formed, the NSPCC has been the United Kingdom’s leading children’s charity for over 130 years and the Rams gifted the opportunity for their logo to appear on the club’s first-team shirts earlier this month.
The club opted to gift the sponsorship opportunity to a national charity with a strong influence in the East Midlands and, after several positive discussions with a number of worthy organisations in the last month, the NSPCC was the unanimous choice.
The move has provided the NSPCC with the opportunity to further build relationships in the local community and, together with the club, the Derbyshire Football Association and Derby County Community Trust, activate fundraising opportunities over the course of the remainder of the season.
More information on the partnership can be found by Clicking Here.
As part of the working relationship between the two parties, the club has committed to highlighting some of the NSPCC’s key messages - starting with their campaign to raise awareness over the course of this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
New figures have revealed a spike in contacts to its Helpline about children experiencing violence and abuse at home during the last World Cup four years ago.
Analysis by the child protection charity found that during the 2018 World Cup, contacts to its Helpline about domestic abuse jumped by a third (33%) on the monthly average, reaching more than 1,000.
They said heightened emotional stress, alcohol and betting on the games could act as potential triggers to incidents in the home over the next four weeks.
The charity is concerned that hundreds of thousands of children could be at risk as new Government data revealed almost 250,000 children are impacted by domestic abuse in England.
The findings chime with research showing a direct correlation between high profile sporting events and reports of domestic abuse to emergency services, agencies, and charities.
The NSPCC’s Helpline - which takes calls from adults concerned about children - delivered 1,060 child welfare contacts about domestic abuse during the 2018 tournament, a 33% increase on the monthly average for that year.
And Childline, which is run by the NSPCC, saw a 17 per cent increase on the monthly average for the number of counselling sessions delivered to children and young people about domestic abuse.
The warning comes after children were officially recognised as victims of domestic abuse as part of the Domestic Abuse Act in January.
The NSPCC said the changes should lead to the impact of domestic abuse on children being better understood, their needs considered, and support given.
But support services for children are patchy with young victims of domestic abuse facing barriers to accessing help in two thirds of local authorities, according to Action for Children research.
This has led to calls for the UK Government to deliver a Victims Bill that is strengthened to ensure specialist support is available for all children impacted by domestic abuse.
The Government published a draft Bill in May, but children and families are still waiting for it to be brought before Parliament.
Sir Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: “The majority of fans across the country will enjoy the World Cup with friends and family but for many children living with domestic abuse it will bring nervousness, fear and even violence.
“Anyone who hears or sees something worrying regarding a child while watching the football can reach out to the NSPCC Helpline for confidential advice.
“Domestic abuse can decimate a child’s confidence and sense of security and without support it can have a devastating impact at the time and long into the future.
“The Government could take a step towards ensuring children have the opportunity to recover from domestic abuse by pressing ahead with a Victims Bill that recognises the needs of the hundreds of thousands of children living in violent homes.”
The World Cup coincides with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign that kicks off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.
The NSPCC firmly supports the important role of sport in childhood and recognises the enjoyment this brings. The charity’s Child Protection in Sport Unit helps parents to engage positively with clubs to help ensure children stay safe in sports settings.
Anyone with any concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk.