Express is praised for helping boost access to child protection services

Mar 18 2010 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

THE Paisley Daily Express has been praised by a social work expert for helping hammer home a crucial child safety message.

A new survey has found that 95 per cent of people in Renfrewshire know who to call if they are worried about a child’s safety.

This is up six per cent on last year, and the Paisley Daily Express has been applauded for helping promote experts’ efforts to ensure everyone knows where to turn if they fear a child is in danger.

In both the 2009 and 2010 polls the majority of people said they would contact the police with their concerns, and Renfrewshire Council’s social work services were the next most popular choice.

Tim Huntingford, the independent chairman of the Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee (RCPC), said: “These figures are very encouraging. Well over half of the people interviewed for this survey had seen publicity about child protection.

“We have used a variety of techniques to reach the public, including bus advertising, a hard-hitting infomercial and the council’s Community Planning magazine.

“The local media – and the Paisley Daily Express in particular – has also strongly supported our efforts to make sure the public knows it is everyone’s job to make sure our children are safe.”

When the RCPC has needed help to promote child protection over the past few months the Express has been happy to help promote campaigns and publish helpline numbers.

The organisation’s efforts to raise public awareness of child protection have included a project which drafted in thousands of shoppers to boost the fight against child abuse, with hard-hitting adverts being screened in two of Renfrewshire’s busiest malls.

Bosses at The Paisley Centre and Braehead, in Renfrew, set up a 16-screen plasma video wall showing an advert to highlight the problems of child abuse and what people can do to play their part in stamping it out.

Jointly produced by Renfrewshire and Glasgow child protection committees, the 60-second infomercial – also screened at the St Enoch Centre – highlighted the different forms of abuse suffered by young people and was seen by an estimated one million shoppers.

Superintendent Jim Baird, the new officer in charge of Paisley and neighbouring towns of Johnstone and Renfrew, said: “I am delighted that there has been an increase in public awareness of who to contact. Protecting children is the responsibility of each and every one of us.

“If someone has concerns that children are at risk of neglect and abuse it is vital that they share this information with the appropriate organisation. To do nothing is to condone the abuse."

The RCPC includes representatives from: Children 1st, the Children’s Panel, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, the Procurator Fiscal’s Office, the Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership, Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and Strathclyde Police.

l If you are worried about a child’s safety you can call:

l the child protection line – 0800 022 3222

l Paisley Social Work – 0141 842 5151

l Johnstone Social Work – 01505 342300

l Renfrew Social Work – 0141 886 5784

l Social Work (evenings and weekends) – 0800 811 505

l the Police – 0141 532 5900

l Childline – 0800 1111