We are calling on all green thumb enthusiasts, window box fanatics and garden shoe box creators to get involved and enter the NSPCC’s first Virtual Open Garden event. 🌼

Due to the cancellation of many events but in particular 'The Bluebell Walk', which is held at Baronscourt Estate, County Tyrone, generating around £3,000 in donations, the Virtual Open Gardens event means that  gardening enthusiasts from across Northern Ireland can take part and help support the work of NSPCC Northern Ireland.

Entrants have a chance to win £100, £50 or £25 vouchers kindly donated by Hillmount Garden Centre (Belfast, Bangor and Newtownards) - prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place!

To enter your garden...

1. Send a photo to us at virtualopengardensni@nspcc.org.uk - include your first name and location.
   
2. Donate your £5 entry (suggested donation).  We'll later share a selection of photos on our facebook and twitter pages.
3.  Don't forget to let your friends and family know for them to join in with their very own gardens too! 
4.  Winners will be selected by Robin Mercer, Hillmount Nursery Centre on Friday 26th June 2020.  Good luck!
   

The NSPCC is still here for the children who need us – and we’re needed more than ever. More children are reaching out to Childline worried about the coronavirus. With schools closed, many vulnerable children are at risk. And across the country, families are struggling to adapt to lockdown. That’s why we’re adapting to make sure we can be here.

The coronavirus crisis is tough for all of us right now – and we’ve had a huge surge in calls from children to Childline struggling to cope with the situation.

Our counsellors have spoken to children who feel anxious and are experiencing panic attacks – many miss the support of school, and feel scared about what’s happening. They’ve answered calls from children trapped in homes that just aren’t safe. And worst of all, they have spoken to children with suicidal thoughts and feelings, who feel they have no one else to turn to.  Sadly, home isn’t a safe place for every child.  We need your support to make sure we can still be here for children at risk of abuse.

At NSPCC we remain hugely reliant on the generosity of the public for 90% of our income.  Fundraising support at NSPCC Northern Ireland has never been more important.

It costs:

• £4 for one of our trained volunteer counsellors to answer a child's call for help to Childline.

• £27 could pay for a Childline supervisor for one hour, supporting our volunteer counsellors.

• £190 could pay for one Childline supervisor shift, supporting our volunteer counsellors.

• £1,250 could pay to run Childline for an average of one hour.
  

Family life has changed overnight. But we’re still here for families – and that includes yours. If you need support, we have a range of resources available at https://www.nspcc.org.uk/coronavirus

Thank you for your support.

NSPCC NI Virtual Open Gardens - Terms & Conditions

• Entries should be emailed to virtualopengardensni@nspcc.org.uk and should include first name and location.
• This event commences on Monday 25th May and will close on Thursday 25th June at 12 noon. The photos will be judged by independent judge, Robin Mercer from Hillmount Garden Centre and winners will be announced via Facebook on Friday 26th June and will also be notified via email.
• For the list of winners, please contact the Northern Ireland Fundraising Team at NorthernIrelandAppeals@nspcc.org.uk
• The NSPCC may use personal data from the received registrations for the purposes of running this event, unless otherwise stated in the entry details.
• By entering your photo, all entrants consent to the use of their personal data by the NSPCC for the purposes of the administration of this event and any other purposes to which the entrant consented.
• By entering your photo, entrants also confirm that they have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and by the decisions of the NSPCC, which are final in all matters relating to the event.
• The NSPCC will not be responsible for technical failures or otherwise including any failure which is within the control of the NSPCC or its agencies. The NSPCC reserves the right to extend, withdraw, alter or suspend this competition for legal or technical reasons without any liability. Any such alterations will be posted as soon as is reasonably possible. 
• NSPCC registered office is Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH. Registered charity number 216401 (England & Wales), SC037717 (Scotland).

By submitting my images to virtualopengardensni@nspcc.org.uk  I hereby give the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717) and its subsidiary, NSPCC Trading Company Limited (company number 90446), (together the “NSPCC”) permission to store and use these images  and identify me by my first name and home town only beside the images. 

Full disclaimer can be issued on request, This consent lasts for a period of up to 5 years from the date submission.  Should you wish to withdraw your consent at any time, please contact the NSPCC at: Fundraising Support, NSPCC Diane Engelhardt House, Unit 2, Treglown Court, Dowlais Road, Cardiff CF24 5LQ’