IN just a few days, people across the UK will go to the polls and the next five years of the country’s governance will be decided.

The NSPCC is a child protection organisation, not a political one, but the nature of our work means we regularly come into contact with politicians and lawmakers to try and help make the country safer for children.

Too often in politics, the needs of babies, children and young people are overlooked. Regardless of political party and whether an MP is in Government or Opposition, we want every MP to do whatever they can to support babies, children and young people in our community.

At the NSPCC, we know the impact abuse and neglect can have on a child, but also how quality support can help to keep children healthy and safe and help those who have experienced abuse to recover. Children need to be protected at home, in school, online, and in our local community. It’s imperative that all political parties prioritise preventing abuse and neglect and helping to ensure that every child can grow up safe and healthy.

In the last few years, the NSPCC campaigned tirelessly for the Online Safety Act to protect children from harm online. MPs from across the political divide came together to make sure legislation was passed. Going forward, we want all political parties to ensure the new regulator, Ofcom, is robust and ambitious in their work so the Act is enforced to ensure tech companies design and operate their platforms with the safety of children put first rather than an afterthought.

In the last Parliament, we persuaded the Government to close a legal loophole so that young people under18 are now protected from being sexually exploited by faith leaders and sports coaches. Last month, before the General Election campaign kicked off, we successfully fought for proposals recognising the rights and needs of young victims to become law to help make sure those who’ve suffered abuse get the help and support they need to recover and rebuild their lives. These were significant milestones in the fight to keep children safe and would not have been delivered without the support of politicians who helped design and pass the legislation.

Equally vital for these achievements was the support of people like you. Whether by speaking to your MP at a local surgery, signing our online petitions or supporting through donations or volunteering to help share information like this. You’ve made a difference in the lives of children across the country.

Our work isn’t just on a national level. Here in Yorkshire, we visit primary schools to help children recognise abuse in all its forms and understand how to speak out if something’s wrong. We help young people to recognise healthy and unhealthy behaviours in relationships so they or their friends can identify and hopefully avoid abuse. Working with midwives, we help expectant parents at risk of anxiety or depression, and we support new families with local campaigns to help build those essential bonds between parent and child.

Children’s needs be in the hearts and minds of everyone going into this election and also for the months and years that follow. Find out more about the NSPCC’s calls for the next UK Government at nspcc.org.uk