NSPCC colleagues take on mammoth month-long walk to help fund work in the city protecting children from sexual abuse

Co-workers at the NSPCC in Plymouth are embarking on a huge fundraising challenge this month to help secure funds for their service centre and its work preventing child sexual abuse across the city.

The team will be walking, jogging and running almost 2,000 kilometers between them to cover the distance it would take them to visit their sister sites across the UK, including Glasgow. Each member of the team has set themselves a personal goal, but together they hope to clock up the distance before the month is out.

From the NSPCC service centre in Plymouth, the colleagues work with children and young people whose lives have been affected by sexual abuse. They are also leading the way with the Together for Childhood partnership programme in the city, which is being piloted in Ernesettle, that aims to prevent child sexual abuse from happening in the first place.

Plymouth is one of four NSPCC Together for Childhood sites, and one of two focusing on the prevention of child sexual abuse. It is those sites in Stoke on Trent, Grimsby and Glasgow that the team is hoping to reach virtually, before covering the distance of the return journey to Plymouth.

Children’s Service Practitioner for the NSPCC, Sarah Cox organised the fundraiser.

She says: “We are all adapting to working differently during the current pandemic and have moved to a virtual world. We are hoping we can invite families back in our centre soon but until then we know the virtual support we are offering is vital in supporting the children, young people and families we work with.

“We wanted to do something as a team to raise some money for our centre and the work we carry out, but also use it as a chance to do something together as a team because currently we are quite separate, working from our homes and only seeing each other over our computer screens.”

Some team members are planning to run 30km over the course of the month, whilst others are walking 150km during July or attempting 30km of walking in a single day.

The team started their virtual challenge at their offices in Cattedown. Their first stop is 388km away in Stoke on Trent, with a further 213km to Grimsby. The last stretch is double that, a distance of 460km to get them to their furthest destination of Glasgow before attempting the 785km return journey to Plymouth.

The charity relies on public donations for 90% of its income, and like many other charities have been hit hard during the pandemic with cancelled or postponed mass participation events.

Caroline Morgan, Supporter Fundraising Manager for the NSPCC in the South West says: “The team at NSPCC Plymouth are still here for children and have been during the lockdown and that’s been possible thanks to the public donations we so heavily rely on as a charity.

“As well as working with children, young people and families during the week through the direct services the team are offering virtually at the moment, they are finding the time to walk, jog, and run almost 2,000km, finding new ways to raise money when they can’t be together.

“They are an incredible team who want the best for children in this city, and all the money they raise will help protect children via the centre’s direct services and community based Together for Childhood activity.”

To follow the progress made by the team throughout the month or to sponsor the fundraising challenge visit Sarah’s JustGiving page.

The team has been inspired by the children’s charity’s Run30 challenge, which encourages people to run, walk or jog 30k in 30 days to help raise vital funds to help the NSPCC still be here for children and young people. For more information on how to sign up for the Run30 challenge in visit the NSPCC website.

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free and confidential advice on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk

Children can contact Childline for free on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk 365 days a year, and speak to a counsellor about a worry or concern they may have.