A RETIRED teacher is appealing for help in alerting primary school pupils to child cruelty.

Lucy Vincent-Daviss wants volunteers to join in with a service which uses assemblies and workshops to encourage children to recognise situations where they may need help.

The Evesham resident, aged 65, believes the ChildLine Schools Service is well-suited to nine to 11-year old’s having been approved by child protection specialists. “I read an advert for the ChildLine School service and thought it was something that I might be able to do,”

said Mrs Vincent-Daviss, who taught privately and is currently on the board of governors at St Richard’s School in Evesham.

“I have previously been an NSPCC fund-raiser and worked with children and young people through volunteering and my previous role as a teacher, so I am aware of how important it is for children to be able to speak out.

“Plus, now that I am retired, I have more time to give to other things, so it was a perfect fit.”

She said the service was important in making children believe they don’t have to suffer in silence.

Childline’s ambitious new programme aims to visit every primary school in the UK by 2016. To do this, the service needs 4,000 volunteers across the UK with 25 needed in Worcestershire to reach the county’s 189 primary schools.

“Ultimately, I feel the ChildLine Schools Service message is so valuable and empowering, and it is important that we get into as many local schools as possible to ‘spread the word’, not only raising children’s awareness but also that of staff and parents,” she said. “A favourite moment of mine happened recently when I was sitting with some pupils and one of the children proudly repeated the ChildLine phone number to me.

“It’s so rewarding to see this kind of response from the children and moments like that really make me feel that I am helping to make a difference.”To volunteer, call 0844 8920225 or visit nspcc.org.uk/childlineschoolsservice.