The number of young children injured in violent attacks has risen 8% in a year, according to a survey of accident and emergency units in England and Wales.

However, the statistics – collected by researchers at Cardiff University – suggest that overall levels of serious violence are continuing to fall.

According to the survey, 350,000 people were treated for injuries in 2009, 1,500 fewer than in the previous year. But the number of under-11′s who needed treatment was up to 2,800.

There was a fall in the number of victims of violence in the next age group, from 11-17.

The most common age bracket for victims remains 18-30 and 2009 saw another rise of 2.7% in violent attacks suffered by people of this age.

The research was carried out by a specialist team at the university who annually track the number of people treated in casualty departments after being attacked.

Source: BBC Family News

Chris, Web Designer at Input Youth

The time parents spend with their children increased over a 25-year period, research suggests.

Mothers spent the most quality time with children, clocking up between 51 to 86 minutes a day in 2000, compared to eight to 21 minutes in 1975.

The study from the University of Oxford suggests that more parents are reading to their sons and daughters, as well as visiting child-friendly attractions.

Researchers analysed thousands of time diaries written by UK families.

The journals, from 1975 and 2000, were kept by parents with children under the age of 18 in their household.

The figures showed fathers also spent more time with their children than their fathers did. Fathers cared for their children for 32 to 36 minutes a day in 2000, compared to between three to eight minutes in 1975.

Dr Oriel Sullivan, a sociologist from the university, believes the changes could be down to men taking a bigger role in the home.

Source: BBC Family News

Chris, Web Designer at Input Youth

A “frightening” number of children who regularly go missing are sexually exploited, parents have been warned.

Barnardo’s has launched a UK-wide campaign to raise funds for its work with young victims of such abuse. The charity said 55% of children and young people helped by its specialist sexual exploitation services still went missing on a regular basis. Barnardo’s chief executive Martin Narey said that regular runaways were “in grave danger” of being preyed upon.

A fundraising appeal – voiced by Dame Helen Mirren – which aims to raise £1.3m for the charity’s 21 specialist sexual exploitation services is due to be launched on BBC Radio 4.

A 2005 study by the Children’s Society estimated that around 100,000 under-16′s ran away from home or care across the UK each year. Barnardo’s said that some stayed with family or friends, but others found themselves in dangerous situations.

Source: BBC Family