A MAJOR campaign to tackle the cause and effects of neglect on children and young people in Barnsley is being launched today - and those behind it are calling on the public for help and support.

The NSPCC is supporting the launch of Neglect Matters and Barnsley’s Neglect Strategy, developed by the council’s safeguarding children’s board.

One of the aims is to help the public - whether they have children of their own or not - to understand what neglect is, what impact it can have on children and on their lives as they become adults, and what they can do to help stop it.

Friends, neighbours or even hairdressers, plumbers and dentists might be able to see the signs a child is being neglected long before they end up in the social care system.

Those behind the campaign hope that if these concerns are raised early enough, help can be offered before problems escalate to a stage where children suffer long-term harm, or have to be taken into care.

“Neglect is the most common form of child abuse,” said Helen Westerman, NSPCC campaigns manager for the north.

“It happens for many reasons, with usually no one single cause.

“The Barnsley Neglect Strategy will not only share best practice with professionals but will also help all of us identify circumstances which put parents or carers under stress, spotting signs so the right help at the right time can be offered.

“I sincerely hope that the people of Barnsley get behind this strategy and prove we are all together for every childhood. It is so important for anyone suspecting a child of being neglected to contact the NSPCC Helpline, so we can help those in need.”

She said some people might resist reporting their suspicions about neglect in fear of getting people into trouble or splitting up families, but that tackling issues early can help keep families together.

“It’s about getting them the help they need, so hopefully they can keep their children with them.”

Debbie Mercer, the council’s head of service for children and family social care, said the lasting consequences of neglect can affect every part of a child’s life, such as a lack of attainment at school, lack of self worth, social exclusion, drug and alcohol problems, mental health problems.

“We know neglect is an issue in Barnsley. The biggest proportion of our referrals to social care are due to neglect.

“But I think we can be very proud of the fact that in Barnsley as a local authority and as a safeguarding children’s board we are really leading on neglect, particularly with this work we are doing with the NSPCC.”

Barnsley Council’s cabinet spokeswoman for safeguarding, Coun Margaret Bruff, said: “We believe in Barnsley that neglect is preventable and that we can intervene before neglect concerns become a problem.”

Adults can contact the NSPCC Helpline 24 hours a day by email on help@nspcc.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 5000. Barnsley Children’s Social Care Assessment Service 772423 during office hours or the emergency duty team on 0844 9841800.