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We're training gas engineers to recognise signs of abuse and neglect

Workers for Britain's Gas Distribution Networks will receive specialist training to give them the confidence to seek support for families in their communities.

 

  • We’ll be delivering safeguarding training to more than 18,000 gas engineers over the next 2 years, in partnership with Britain’s 4 Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs)1.
  • Half a million children suffer abuse and neglect a year in the UK. Almost 60,000 contacts were made to our Helpline last year from adults including utility workers2.
  • Everyone has a role to play in safeguarding children, and workers who visit homes have a unique chance to make a difference. The staff, including sub-contractors and GDN staff at Cadent Gas, Northern Gas Network, SGN and Wales & West Utilities, will be helped to recognise signs of neglect and abuse.
  • The training – It’s Your Call – will help give workers who visit people’s homes the knowledge and confidence to seek support if they have concerns, including calling our Helpline. This training has already begun and will take place over the next 2 years.

Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, said:

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“We are hugely excited about this project, and grateful to Ofgem and all the GDNs for supporting this wonderful partnership.

"Everyone has a role to play in preventing child abuse and neglect. With this training and support, we can create a real force for good and help protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

“By working together and sharing our resources, experience and expertise we can help engineers and gas employees across the country play their part in supporting vulnerable families and children in their communities.”

Edward Allard, social programmes manager at Cadent, said:

“We are delighted to announce our new partnership with the NSPCC. This is a significant and wide-reaching project and will create a real force for good across Britain.

“We visit thousands of homes every day, and thanks to this partnership we can create an army of safeguarders to help identify children at risk of neglect or abuse and ensure our workers know how to help them get the support they need as soon as possible.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to support customers living in the most vulnerable situations, each GDN will also work with the NSPCC’s safeguarding experts to ensure that the safeguarding of children and young people is fully embedded into our organisations.”

This project has been funded by the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) – an Ofgem fund split between the 4 GDNs to work with partners, charities and organisations to support customers in vulnerable situations.

The project will also offer the chance for child protection specialists working with the NSPCC to learn about spotting carbon monoxide risks. These specialists will have access to free carbon monoxide detectors and will learn about fuel poverty signposting. This will support thousands of households across the UK, making sure more families are kept safe and warm in their homes.

To find out more about how the NSPCC can support professionals to keep children safe, including safeguarding training, consultancy and free resources, visit NSPCC Learning.

Worried about a child?

You can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000, emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk or completing our report abuse online form.

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References

  1. 1. For reference GDNs look after all the pipes underground and up to the gas meter. The gas that flows through all the pipes belongs to the supplier, as well as the meter. While all the pipes and appliances inside the home are the responsibility of the homeowner.

  2. 2. Of 33,218 Helpline child welfare contacts in 2022/23 where the referrer relationship was known, 1,142 were from professionals and 24 were from utility/delivery service workers.