Past campaigns

Read more about our past campaigns

• Vote out Domestic Violence

  During 2009 the NSPCC ran a domestic violence campaign to encourage the government to see domestic violence from a child’s point of view. At the same time we ran a children and young people’s campaign called “Vote out Domestic Violence”. Young people with personal experience of domestic violence helped to shape the campaign, wording the young people’s petition, naming the young people’s campaign and, most importantly, talking with government ministers.
  
  Over 6000 of you visited the campaign web pages, which contained information on domestic violence, a quiz, a petition, a campaigning game and a video message from Actress Sunetra Sarker. 
  
  Young people also met the Children’s Minister Dawn Primarolo MP to present the campaign petition and talk about the effect domestic violence has on children and young people.

• The 2008 Equal Protection campaign

  In spring 2008 the NSPCC ran a campaign to find out what you thought about smacking, and to explain why it thinks smacking should be banned.
  
  Over 18,000 children young people took part in some way. We asked what you thought about smacking and how you would feel about being smacked. We also asked if you thought children had the same protection in the law from common assault as adults (that is where you hit someone without leaving a long lasting mark on the skin like a bruise).
  
  Here are some of the things you said:
  
  "It is really tight that you are hitting your kids and you want them to grow up as a kind person but you don’t encourage them or help them by hitting them."
  
  "Smacking doesn’t make you behave it just makes you cry"
  
  "I know how it feels to be smacked by my parents. It makes me feel un-loved and rejected."
  
  Children do not have the same protection under the law from common assault as adults. One young person said:
  
  "I don’t understand why other countries see how wrong it is and have banned it, but the UK can’t see how dangerous it is."
  
  The reasons why the NSPCC thinks smacking should be banned are because:
  
  • It’s unsafe because it is difficult to judge the level of force to use when you smack. Although the adult who is doing the smacking might think it’s only a gentle smack, it might feel much harder to the child.
  • It might encourage children and young people to hit and be bullies.
  • It might teach children and young people it is ok to use violence to solve arguments or make someone do what you want.
  • Because the law is unclear, people who want to harm children can get away with it more easily (for example they can get around the law that you can’t leave a bruise by hitting children in places which are hard to see.)
  • Because children are not protected under the law in the same way as adults, the law is not equal.
  • It can be confusing for the child or young person who is being smacked.
  • It isn’t very good as a form of discipline. One young person said to us: ‘if it worked why would they have to keep doing it?’

• 100 Days campaign: Violence against children and young people
  

  In the Autumn of 2007 we asked you to join our campaign to stop the violence in children and young people's lives. Over 2000 of you took part, letting Prime Minister Gordon Brown know how you felt about violence and what you want to be done. Here are some of the things you told us.
  
  "Make kids aware" (Rhys, aged 12)
  
  "Start doing more to help poor children that are victims of abuse, but can't do anything about it. It isn't fair on them." (Caroline, aged 16)
  
  "Stop this and get the message out to people that if someone is hurting you you MUST tell somene who can help.I also think that the goverment should send help into schools which have problems with bullying and abuse in their own home.Something must be done." (Courtney, aged 12)
  
  The messages and a giant postcard were handed to Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, at an event in October 2007 where young people also discussed violence against children and suggested ways of trying to tackle it.