A CHILDREN’S charity has revealed that 73 referrals were made to authorities over child neglect concerns in Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd over the last year.

They were among over 600 made across the whole of Wales and, according to NSPCC Wales Appeal Board Chairman Alan Peterson, it is contacted on average 55 times a day by adults from across the UK worried about neglect.

Gwynedd received more referrals, 32, than neighbouring Powys, which received 14.

Ceredigion received 17 referrals during the year.

The charity’s helpline heard from concerned adults with reports ranging from children being left unsupervised or with inadequate clothing, to being screamed at or living amongst mouldy food and animal faeces.

Many of these concerns were so serious that they were referred to agencies including local authorities and the police.

Statistics show 2,874 sexual offences against children aged under 16 were recorded by police in Wales last year.

Nearly 6,000 children are in care and 2,690 are on the child protection register.

Accepting a £1,990 cheque from Care Forum Wales, which represents nearly 500 independent social care providers, Mr Paterson said the need to put an end to the suffering of vulnerable young people is as great as ever.

“It’s our sad experience that when our teams visit a school to talk to pupils about the vital work we do, we find that on average two children in every classroom have suffered abuse or neglect,” he said.

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