NSPCC and Lidl UK announce new £3 million partnership to keep children safe from abuse

· Long-term commitment from the supermarket will enable the charity to reach one million children with its ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’ primary school programme
· Support is vital, with two children in every classroom suffering some form of abuse


A new partnership between the NSPCC and Lidl UK will enable the children’s charity to reach one million primary school children with crucial advice on how to stay safe from abuse.
The supermarket chain is committed to raising £3 million over the next three years for the NSPCC’s Schools Service.
Currently the children’s charity has managed to visit two-thirds of primary schools across the country with its ‘Speak Out! Stay Safe’ programme.
But with Lidl UK’s support the NSPCC will be looking to reach every primary school with its interactive assemblies and workshops designed to keep young children happy and safe from abuse.
The new partnership, which is the NSPCC’s first with a major supermarket, was the result of a vote that was opened up to Lidl’s 20,000 employees who work in its 650 stores and 11 distribution centres across the UK.
Lidl UK employees will be given the opportunity to volunteer with the NSPCC to see the work the charity does with children and teenagers first hand.
They will also be able to witness ‘Speak Out! Stay Safe’ being delivered in primary schools close to the stores where they work, seeing for themselves how children are being taught to protect their bodies and encouraged to speak out if something is wrong.

Peter Wanless, Chief executive of the NSPCC said:
“We are delighted Lidl UK has chosen us as its charity partner. Their support means we will be able to train enough volunteers to deliver our schools service to every primary school in the UK, enabling us to reach one million children with crucial advice on how to stay safe and happy.
“This is especially important when you consider that two children in every classroom have suffered some form of abuse, a state of affairs that is completely unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue.
“Lidl’s long-term commitment to support the NSPCC will help us tackle this problem and ensure many more young people are given the opportunity to enjoy a happy childhood.”

Christian Härtnagel, CEO of Lidl UK, said:
“With 650 stores and 20,000 employees nationwide, Lidl UK is at the heart of communities across the country. We, therefore, feel proud that we are in a position to give back to those local communities by enabling the NSPCC to expand its Schools Service to every primary school in the UK.
“This isn’t just a commitment from the business, but one from all of our employees who voted for our new charity partner. We were all incredibly inspired by the work that the NSPCC does and, together, we are dedicated to helping them provide the vital support needed to keep children safe so that they can grow up healthy and thrive.”

Notes to editors:
For more information contact the NSPCC press office on 0203 772 9722 or email media@nspcc.org.uk
About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. Using voluntary donations, which make up more than 90 per cent of our funding, we help children who’ve been abused to rebuild their lives, we protect children at risk, and we find the best ways of preventing child abuse from ever happening. So when a child needs a helping hand, we’ll be there. When parents are finding it tough, we’ll help. When laws need to change, or governments need to do more, we won’t give up until things improve.
Our Childline service provides a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help. Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0800 1111 or by visiting www.childline.org.uk
Our free helpline provides adults with a place they can get advice and support, share their concerns about a child or get general information about child protection. Adults can contact the helpline 24 hours