NSPCC Northern Ireland

05/06/2026

As we come to the end of another Volunteers’ Week, the team at NSPCC Northern Ireland want to say a HUGE thank you to all our volunteers. We couldn’t exist without your support.

We always need more volunteers to allow us to be there for children and young people, and there are roles to suit everyone. Maybe you could help children and their families through the court system with our Young Witness Service? Or volunteer to lead keeping safe workshops in primary schools with our Speak out, Stay safe programme. You could talk to children and young people online and over the phone for our Childline service, giving them a voice when no one else is listening. If you can’t commit to regular volunteering, you could even help at one of our events – or run a fundraising event of your own.

If you’re feeling inspired this Volunteers’ Week you can find out more at nspcc.org.uk/volunteer or search ‘NSPCC volunteering’ to see the range of roles available.

02/06/2026

The Belfast Area Domestic & Sexual Violence and Abuse Partnership has re-launched an important app designed to help tackle abuse across the Belfast area.

01/06/2026

Today, the Equal Protection Working Group has shared its ‘deep disappointment’ that the equal protection of children from physical violence, in the same way as adults, will not be debated as part of the Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill.

Read the joint statement from the coalition’s members from children’s rights organisations, health professional bodies, charities, and community and voluntary sector groups.

Visit: www.niccy.org/articles 💙🩷🧡💚❤️

EPWG members and supporters
Chris Quinn, NSPCC Northern Ireland, Include Youth, Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland, VOYPIC, Action for Children Northern Ireland, Barnardo's Northern Ireland, BASW, Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI), Children's Law Centre, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Mencap, Stronger from the Start Alliance, Michelle Guy MLA .

18/05/2026

It’s been a week since we handed over our open letter at Stormont calling on the Assembly to act and remove the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ and give children in Northern Ireland the same protection from assault as adults.

At NSPCC, we don’t think physical punishment is ever acceptable, and we also know that the majority of adults here want legal reform. But we still need your help to do that.

Visit https://shorturl.at/gILON to sign our petition and show your support.

17/05/2026

We're still looking for young people aged 12-15 to join our NSPCC Voice of Online Youth and we’d love as many applicants as possible from Northern Ireland!

If a young person in your life is interested in helping to build a safer, happier online world for children and young people, you can visit: https://bit.ly/4uAsKBk - but be quick as the closing date is 22nd May!

15/05/2026

For too long, tech companies have knowingly sacrificed children’s safety for profit, and we need to see serious and urgent change.

Join us in demanding a safer online world for children - https://bit.ly/437qUvN

Tech companies, your time is up⏰

14/05/2026

Thanks to Ni4kids for sharing our open letter hand in at Stormont this week.

You can still show your support for equal protection for children in Northern Ireland by signing our petition - https://shorturl.at/gILON

NSPCC Northern Ireland, along with politicians, medical professionals and members of the children’s sector sign open letter to call on the Assembly to act now to remove the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ and give children here the same protection as their counterparts in 70 countries around the world.

A new survey, commissioned by NSPCC Northern Ireland, found that 67% of parents and carers and 65% of adults support a change in the law to give children the same protection from physical assault as adults.

Findings show that knowledge of the current law is unclear, with only 38% of respondents being aware that in Northern Ireland parents and carers can physically punish their child.

Full story here: https://ni4kids.com/experts-call-on-political-party-leaders-to-back-a-change-to-the-law-to-protect-children-from-physical-punishment/

13/05/2026

13/05/2026

Thanks to Northern Ireland Humanists for joining us at Stormont this week to hand in our open letter, and for sharing our petition to ensure children here have the same protection from assault as adults. You can sign at https://shorturl.at/gILON

12/05/2026

Huge and heartfelt thanks to every single person who joined us at Stormont yesterday to hand in our open letter calling for a change in the law to protect children from physical punishment.
We are so grateful for this wonderful support 💚