NSPCC may have to fund cost of move

The NSPCC may be forced to cover the cost of moving its telephone
helpline operation to Manchester after doubts that £5m of a
pledge to fund the scheme will materialise.

The children’s charity has already admitted that its new “listening
centre” was dependent on a £6m pledge from Mark and Deborah
Langford, founders of Manchester-based financial services company
Amulet Group (news, page 10, 12 December 2002).

The move will involve transferring 25 specialist child protection
social worker posts from London.

But Amulet, whose subsidiary is personal injury compensation
specialist The Accident Group, has been placed in administration.

The NSPCC said it had so far been given just £1m of the
pledge, although it did hope to receive the balance.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “The plans for the listening centre
will go ahead. The development costs have been underwritten by
us.

“If necessary, the cost will have to come out of the existing money
that we have.”