Children’s charity NSPCC is highlighting a “neglect wake-up call” following a sharp rise in concerns raised to its helpline by community members.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the service received 4,515 contacts from local community members worried about potential neglect – a 32% rise on the previous year, when there were 3,430 such contacts.
These accounted for a quarter of all 17,734 neglect-related contacts received during 2024/25.
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The data also shows that nearly half of the neighbour-related contacts (2,194) were serious enough to be referred to safeguarding agencies – a 17% rise on the year before.
Key concerns raised by the public included children being left alone, adult substance and alcohol misuse, unmet basic care needs, issues within the home environment and emotional neglect.
Community members often play a crucial role in identifying early signs of neglect, said the charity, warning that without a national neglect strategy, agencies may be missing opportunities to provide crucial early support.
One neighbour told NSPCC Helpline: “A mum near me left a domestic abuse relationship to move into a flat, but she doesn’t seem to be getting any support since being moved.
“She told me she was struggling for money and admitted she gets a takeaway every few days and hopes it lasts between them.
“I’ve noticed children aren’t being washed now too, I’d guess she’s struggling to look after three kids or struggling to pay the water bill.”
The charity warns that financial hardship, insecure housing, and limited access to essential services can leave families unable to meet a child’s needs, increasing the risk of harm when early support is not in place.
Nick Treloar, senior policy and public affairs officer at NSPCC, said: “It’s heartening to see the local community stepping up to protect children from neglect and turning to our helpline for support. Their concern shows just how deeply this issue is felt across the country.
“Neglect isn’t always obvious to spot and speaking up might feel hard, but it can be the turning point for a child in danger.
“Without early support, our fear is that children will keep slipping through the cracks.
“The government must wake-up to the profoundly urgent crisis of child neglect and commit to a national neglect strategy that gives families in England vital support before irreversible harm is done.”
Source: CYP Now
