Final call to make it count for children in the North West and sign up for the NSPCC’s Number Day

THE NSPCC is reminding schools in the region to register for Number Day 2011 by taking part in the biggest ever baths lesson on Friday, 2 December 2011, to raise funds for the charity’s ChildLine service.  NSPCC Number Day, sponsored by Vosene Kids, is a great way for children and young people to have fun with numbers. Schools can either take part in the World’s Biggest Maths Lesson on Number Day where children can explore learning with numbers, or there are other or popular fundraising activities for kids to enjoy, like 'Who wants to be a Mathionnaire'. Alternatively schools could do something different with digits and come up with their own fundraising event to celebrate numbers on Number Day. All the information and resources needed to take part can be downloaded now.  The materials are free and include curriculum-based maths activities for all ages and guidance on planning your Number Day event.  Mel Holland, NSPCC schools fundraising manager for the North West, said:- "So far hundreds of schools have signed up. Number Day is an excellent opportunity to show that maths can be fun and meaningful too. There is still plenty of time for schools to join in, either by taking part in our biggest ever maths lesson or planning their own maths challenges, everything they need is available to download now." Schools who register to take part will be entered into an exciting prize draw for the chance to win £1,000 towards maths equipment, kindly donated by Vosene Kids. One local school said:- "We decided to register for Number Day as thought it was a great way for our pupils to learn more about maths while raising money to help make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children." Money raised will support ChildLine ,the UK’s free 24 hour helpline for children and young people in danger or distress. Founded in 1986 by Esther Rantzen, ChildLine gives children access to confidential support when they need it and insures all children and young people have someone to turn to whenever and wherever they need help. With 12 bases around the UK, children and young people can contact trained ChildLine counsellors both online or by phone. For further ways of supporting ChildLine locally please visit:- nspcc.org.uk.

"Ho No, No! Take Puppies Off North West Christmas Lists!"

A 3rd of children want a dog and over half of parents are buying them from the wrong place. By the end of this week most children would have written their Christmas wish lists so the Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has launched its “Ho No No” Campaign to take puppies off the Christmas wish list. Research from the charity reveals that over a third of children have asked for a puppy as a present and worryingly 16% of parents would buy one if their child put it on their list. The charity is concerned that, just like many other presents, puppies often become victims of festive fatigue once the novelty wears off and every year animal charities have to pick up the pieces when Christmas present pups are abandoned. The charity is urging children and their parents to make sure a puppy is not included alongside the latest Nintendo DS or Barbie doll this year.

In the North West region, the survey revealed:-

► Over 52% of children in the region write their Christmas lists before December is the 4th fastest region in the UK.

► 31% - nearly a 3rd of children in the region have asked for a puppy as a present.

► Parents in the region are still willing to give in to pester power with 15% saying they would buy their child a puppy if they asked for one.

Dogs Trust believes that part of the reason puppies are considered suitable "gifts" is the fact they are sold so easily though pet shops and websites. Despite repeated pleas not to get a puppy from a pet shop 27% of parents in the North West region would still look for "that doggy in the window" and 7% would look at newspaper ads. Encouragingly, 27% would visit a rescue centre and over a third would use a breeder.

As part of the "Ho, No, No" campaign, Dogs Trust is encouraging people to send a FREE Christmas card to their local pet shop or more high profile outlets such as Harrods to:- "Stop selling puppies at Christmas time". This mirrors Dogs Trust’s own policy of stopping rehoming dogs in the run up to Christmas and New Year. Anyone wanting to get involved should visit:- adogisforlife.com.

Dogs Trust Merseyside Rehoming Centre Manager, Georgina Lowery, commented:- "For over 33 years we have been saying that “A Dog is For Life, Not Just for Christmas®” yet it is worrying that so many children and their parents still consider a puppy as a suitable present and want to pop a pooch under the Christmas tree. Dogs are not disposable “gifts”, they are living creatures who deserve a home for life. So, this year, as every year, we are asking the public to think about the responsibilities involved in owning a dog. Cute puppies can turn into big dogs who will live for around 13 years. So the whole family needs to have the time and commitment to give them the right training and enable them to become wonderful family pets; not just abandon them when they grow up."

This year, Dogs Trust’s 17 Rehoming Centres across the UK and Ireland are bracing themselves to work around the clock caring for festive canine causalities. Last year Brandy, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was cruelly abandoned on a street in Reading on Christmas Eve, while Pudding, a Boxer cross, was dumped in snowy woodland during the night on Christmas morning. Both pups had been left to fend for themselves in the snow as temperatures dropped below freezing and staff are certain they were bought as Christmas presents and dumped when their owners realised the work involved in looking after a puppy.