NSPCC children's charity to shut Truro and Exeter bases

The charity said its ChildLine service would be strengthened with a new service in schools

Family and children's charity NSPCC is closing its only centre in Cornwall and one in Devon.

Bases in Exeter and Truro will go but Plymouth will remain said the charity, which added that its ChildLine service would be strengthened.

It said Exeter and Truro did not have high levels of deprivation and had smaller populations compared with other parts of the region.

The change was not to cut costs, but "to help as many children as possible".

Jon Brown, head of strategy and development, said: "This was a difficult decision to make, it does not reflect the quality of the service delivered by the teams, but the fact that the NSPCC cannot be everywhere."

Danger or distress

He said the charity would "do everything we can" to make sure that those children and families currently using its services were supported.

He said: "We remain committed to working with, and supporting, other agencies in the region through a substantially increased training and consultancy service to help share our knowledge and experience with others working with children.

"This will be available to professionals working with children and young people across the South West."

The confidential helpline ChildLine was set up in 1986 to help children in danger or distress.

Mr Brown said: "The NSPCC will also strengthen and develop a number of services for children and adults across the UK.

"These include our helplines - ChildLine for children and our NSPCC helpline for any adult concerned about a child - and our new ChildLine Schools Service, which will enhance our presence in schools."