A CHARITY has confirmed it will stop its face-to-face services for vulnerable children in Prestatyn.

The NSPCC will stop the delivery of direct services in the town. Childline in Prestatyn will not be impacted.

They will close their centre in Swansea and use their Cardiff base as a regional hub.

The changes, which will be implemented by next Spring, are being made following a consultation.

The NSPCC confirmed there will be redundancies, but they intend to ‘minimise staff job losses’; there will be a role created for a campaigns manager for North Wales.

It is important to highlight that all children currently receiving an NSPCC service will complete an agreed programme of work.

Tracey added: “Alongside Childline, which is here for children no matter their worry, and our helpline, which is here for any adult with concerns about a child, a hub in Cardiff will coordinate all of our work in Wales. This will include local campaigns, specialist direct services, community partnerships, and a named person to work with every single school in Wales.

“Our Childline base will remain in Prestatyn but our face-to-face work with children from this site will come to an end. A consultation has now closed and sadly a number of roles will be made redundant in the months ahead. We’re doing everything we can to support staff members affected, including training and suitable alternative employment where possible. Every child or family currently receiving an NSPCC service will complete an agreed programme of work.  

“With less early or preventative support available for families, growing online safety concerns, and the impact of the pandemic, we are extremely worried about the risks facing children here.  We believe we can have the greatest impact with the funding we have by trying to prevent abuse and neglect before it happens. These changes would help us achieve that aim across Wales.”

The hub in Cardiff will bring together services such as campaigning, community partnerships, fundraising and the charity’s work with schools, including a named member of staff from the NSPCC’s Schools Service to liaise with “every single one” across Wales.

The NSPCC said it has spent “several years” gathering “robust insight” into how the charity can best make the greatest impact with the funding they have have.

The charity feel the changes will help the NSPCC achieve their ambition to work with more people, reach more children and families and enables them to put a strong focus on prevention.

Prestatyn councillor Gerry Frobisher, chairman of Denbighshire Friends of Childline, said: “No matter what the NSPCC have come up with - it is a sad day for children’s’ services and safety not just in Prestatyn, but North Wales as a whole.

“In my opinion, children receiving an NSPCC service will complete an agreed programme of work really means no work with new children on the project and if it is a project, I am sure it will soon be at an end.

“As we all know any hub in Cardiff does not pass the M4. The North and middle Wales will be second or third in line for any finance and new projects.

“A dedicated campaigns manager is a different way of saying advertising manager and a job that can be done from Cardiff.

“However, I am extremely pleased that the Childline base is remaining in Prestatyn. The free and confidential service for children and young people to call for help and advice was founded by Dame Esther Rantzen in 1986.

“I have been involved with fundraising for Childline through the Denbighshire Friends of ChildLine since 1989 and know that thousands of young people have been helped over the years.”

Adults can contact the NSPCC helpline to discuss concerns or get advice and support. Telephone 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk or visit nspcc.org.uk