Primary school children in Herefordshire have been receiving help recognising the signs of abuse and where to get help when something is wrong, from local volunteers.

Devoted volunteers from the National Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) are visiting schools across the region to help them recognise key signs of abuse, and where to get help if something is wrong. The NSPCC's 'Speak Out Stay Safe' workshops have been delivered to more than 1,000 children in the county in the past year.

Jacqui Timbrell from Hereford is one of the NSPCC's loyal volunteers, who since 2014 has dedicated her time to making a difference in the county.

“Many of the younger children who can’t always distinguish the media world from the real world and don’t know what things are wrong.

“The older children, aged ten and eleven, are very media savvy now and come across as much more mature than they did ten years ago. Many of them may have already seen inappropriate content online and on social media. 

“It is often those children approaching secondary school that really to need to understand the NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe messages about staying safe as that is when they may be exposed to new things in an unfamiliar and often challenging environment.

"There are a lot of vulnerable children who really do need our help. Volunteering at the NSPCC is about speaking to children and encouraging them to speak out to a safe adult when they’re upset, scared or worried," she said.

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Kate Warner, the NSPCC schools service coordinator for Herefordshire, said: “It is sad fact that within the average primary school class, at least two children will have suffered abuse or neglect.

"This is why the NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe programme is so important, especially now with mobile phones and other devices as child abuse can take place in an otherwise safe home environment.

Ms Warner added that the charity needs more volunteers to carry out the important work in the county, and is currently accepting applications for the role.