Eighteen And Under gets a Thumbs Up in new report by NPC (New Philanthropy Capital).

NPC sings the praises of small Dundee based Charity, Eighteen and Under in its new report.

The report, Not seen and not heard, says that eradicating child abuse can only be achieved by focusing more on preventative measures and supporting charities who take this approach. It also states that, although the government spends an estimated £1.8 billion a year tackling child abuse, most of the focus is on child protection, not preventing abuse or dealing with its long-term effects. NPC estimates that at least 80,000 children in the UK are abused every year.

NPC, an independent, non-profit making organisation which advises charitable donors, calls for a multi-faceted approach to deal effectively with the problem and says that charities can play a crucial role in addressing the causes, as well as the effects of abuse.

It singles out Eighteen And Under as an example of an organisation which is getting it right in the field of violence prevention, through their multi award winning VIP (Violence is Preventable) programme. The report states that ‘The Eighteen And Under scheme really stands out. It has a strong emphasis on disclosure, expecting children to put into place telling strategies it has taught them. Given that children tend not to disclose abuse, the study found that the VIP programme elicited a surprisingly high number of disclosures, during lessons, and afterwards, particularly from younger children.’

Eighteen and Under’s helpline service, which receives an increased number of calls following participation in the VIP programme in schools, also receives praise. As the report says ‘The service is genuinely child-friendly and focused. Eighteen and Under is a compelling option, therefore, for donors interested in working directly with children to help them protect themselves.

In recommending the VIP Programme, the report explains that ‘through the use of videos, discussion and interactive games, children are encouraged to recognise unsafe or uncomfortable situations and are taught simple messages to keep them safe, while also offering training to parents, teachers and youth workers. Its work also leads to children reporting abuse that has happened to them - this is striking because the majority of abused children tell no-one at the time.’

The report concludes, ‘a large part of the success of the charity in eliciting disclosures was due to the openness and accessibility of the staff. They are, quite simply, very good at listening to children. School is also an excellent place to identify abuse. Charities like Eighteen And Under are helping to encourage direct disclosures from children, as well as aiming to empower children to help them protect themselves from being abused in the first place. Assessing the effectiveness of any purely preventative scheme is difficult, but giving children an opportunity to explore such issues in a non-frightening, educational and enjoyable way is an impressive achievement.

Laurie Matthew, Coordinator of Eighteen And Under said, ‘The positive recognition we receive in this report is extremely gratifying, particularly as it is aimed at charity donors. The report states a welcome case for the VIP Programme to be available to every school child in the UK. This is our stated aim too – but it will only be achievable if we can secure enough funding, and garner enough support to make it happen. We are crossing our fingers that the report will encourage more potential donors to find out more about what we do and how they can support the VIP Programme.’

Notes for editors

To access the full report, please visit http://www.philanthropycapital.org/html/Research/child_abuse.php

For further information about NPC, its research reports and charity recommendations, or to arrange an interview please contact:

Sue Wixley, New Philanthropy Capital
Tel: 020 7785 6317
Or 079 32688 431

Sarah Jane Marshall, Quiller Consultants
Peter Wilson-Smith, Quiller Consultants
Tel : 020 7233-9444

About Eighteen And Under

Eighteen And Under is a registered charity, based in Dundee that offers confidential support and information to any young person, aged 18 and under, who has experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse. The charity is a member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Alliance for the Prevention of Violence and they have helped thousands of young people in the Dundee area and throughout the UK over the last 13 years. For more information, visit their website at www.18u.org.uk or call 01382 206222.

About the VIP Programme

The VIP Programme is a multi award winning abuse prevention programme for children, young people and vulnerable adults throughout the UK.
It works on three levels:-
? Early disclosures - meaning abuse is stopped sooner
? Staying safe - avoiding violent or abusive situations
? Changing the mindset of potential abusers of the future.
The programme has won many national and international awards, including
Centre for Social Justice Awards 2007 Highly Commended
Make A Difference Award 2007 for outstanding work in the community
2006 Scottish Social Services Council Care Accolades
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
2006 Scottish Crime-Stoppers–Community Safety Award
WINNER
2005 News of the World Children's Champion's individual award for Co-coordinator.
2005 Dundee Partnership Awards–Community Safety Award
WINNER
2004 Women in Cities International & International Centre for the
Prevention of Crime - Safety Award
For more information about the VIP programme visit www.violenceispreventable.org.uk or call 01382 206222.

Some Statistics (From the WHO)