# NSPCC asks people to fundraise through play events with launch of Childhood Day

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/18/nspcc-asks-people-to-fundraise-through-play-events-with-launch-of-childhood-day/
- Published: 2021-05-18T08:30:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The NSPCC has launched Childhood Day, which takes place in June and calls on people
to celebrate childhood and support its work by organising a fundraising play event.**

Since April last year, [NSPCC](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/) has revealed that [Childline](https://www.childline.org.uk/)
has carried out 73,088 counselling sessions about mental or emotional health. 5,646
of these counselling sessions were with children aged 11 or under, an increase of
nearly a third (29%) when compared to the year before.

The charity has also revealed that in 2020/21, the first full year of living under
Coronavirus restrictions, it delivered 16,610 counselling sessions about abuse, 
with counselling sessions about emotional abuse increasing by 18% when compared 
to the year before.

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Now, as lockdown continues to ease, the charity is encouraging people across the
UK to get involved in [Childhood Day](https://nspcc.org.uk/support-us/events-fundraising/childhood-day/),
which takes place on 11 June. The event was previously piloted in specific areas,
and has now launched with a refreshed look and feel.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt9O0xe8z9A&t=1s

The charity has also launched a film that encourages people to play their part for
children by signing up, downloading a fundraising pack and organising a play event
to fundraise for the NSPCC.

Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of Childline, said**: **

> “Throughout this pandemic, children and young people have had to deal with so 
> many difficult new challenges, many knowing that their families were struggling
> with health worries and financial issues, some locked down in unsafe homes, deprived
> of their schools which may have been their only refuge. Many have told Childline
> that they have struggled to cope and their mental health has suffered as a result.
>  
> “Childline’s counsellors have been tremendously impressed by the resilience of
> so many young people during the pandemic, supporting themselves and each other.
> Nevertheless, we are all only too aware that not only education has suffered, 
> but so has the opportunity to play. My grandchildren have told me how much they
> have missed their friends during lockdown. Play is such an important part of childhood,
> building confidence and creating relationships. After the year we’ve had, I am
> really looking forward to joining my own family on Childhood Day. I do hope as
> many families as possible will be able to do the same, to enjoy each other’s company
> and have fun and play together.”

NSPCC supporter Dr Ranj Singh also commented, saying:

> “Young people have experienced so many different challenges to their mental health
> this year. Lots will have played less because they’ve been stuck at home, but 
> as restrictions ease and opportunities for play increase it’s important we recognise
> its benefits.
>  
> “Play can help children work through difficult emotions, encounter new experiences
> and build resilience, confidence and self-esteem. In light of this, I’m backing
> the NSPCC’s Childhood Day and encouraging families up and down the country to 
> get playing on the 11 June.”