"The NSPCC childhood day was on the 11th June this year. One young man from the Bangor 2nd Ward, in the Belfast Stake, Nathaniel McMahon, is helping to raise funds throughout the month:
Dame Esther Rantzen, Founder of the NSPCC run service Childline, TV presenting duo Ant & Dec and TV presenter Emma Willis are calling on Northern Ireland to play today in support of the NSPCC’s Childhood Day.
The NSPCC thinks we could all do with a bit more play and is calling on families, friends and work colleagues to celebrate childhood and give children their moment to really be kids after a difficult year.
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Nathaniel will be supporting the NSPCC this Childhood Day© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.One supporter is Nathaniel, a 12-year-old student at Strangford College in Newtownards, who will be putting himself through his paces as he sets to run a mile each day throughout June to help raise vital funds.
Proud mum Helen said: “This challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity to raise funds for the NSPCC and whilst a mile a day may seem like a tough thing to do, Nathaniel has been busy training and is determined to give it his best shot!"
The NSPCC has also found that the pandemic has increased the risk of abuse and neglect. The Childline service reported an 18% increase in counselling sessions about emotional abuse, when compared to the year before.
There’s still time to get involved and sign up to host a play event this weekend. Visit nspcc.org.uk/childhood-day to download your free fundraising pack with lots of play ideas.
You can also support Childhood Day and help protect children by making a donation through the NSPCC website - www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/ways-to-give/donate
NSPCC Northern Ireland