THE NSPCC has launched a campaign urging parents and carers to think carefully about leaving children home alone or unsupervised during the summer holidays.
Each year the children’s charity receives the highest number of contacts from adults about this issue during the warmer months, seeing peaks when children break up for the summer holidays and are outside the home for extended periods.
The guidance also comes as the NSPCC reveals that it made a higher number of referrals to external agencies in the West Midlands during the pandemic than in the previous year.
Blakemore Retail, which runs 263 SPAR stores in England and Wales, is supporting the NSPCC’s ‘Home or Out Alone’ campaign, which aims to help parents make the right decision about leaving their children at home safely or letting them leave the house unsupervised.
A new quiz is also available to help provide families with helpful guidance to keep their children safe.
Kam Thandi, NSPCC National Services Director said: “As the school summer holidays begin, we want to encourage parents and carers to think carefully about leaving children home alone or unsupervised, and also remind members of the public to look out for the children in their communities.
“The summer months can present a particularly challenging time for parents and carers when it comes to making the decision about whether to let their children stay home alone or go out unsupervised.
“We launched our Home or Out Alone campaign with Blakemore Retail to help them navigate these decisions that we know can be tricky.”
Visit https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/ for access to the quiz.
