NSPCC Wales concerns over rise in children left home alone
NSPCC Helpline made more than 200 referrals to agencies in Wales with concerns about children being left home alone last year
The NSPCC made 207 referrals to agencies in Wales between April 2024 and March 2025 where children being left home alone or unsupervised was believed to be the main risk factor for the child.
This summer holiday, the children’s charity is encouraging parents and carers to reach out to the NSPCC Helpline or website for advice on leaving children home alone.
Welsh agencies, including the police and children’s services, were alerted to concerns about children being left home alone or unsupervised more than 200 times
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the service – which provides help and advice for adults with concerns about the wellbeing of a child – made 207 referrals to local agencies, following contacts from adults who were concerned for the safety of a child because of this issue.
More than 4,000 referrals were made to agencies across the UK.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the service received 6,719 contacts on the subject. This is an average of 560 a month.
In July and August, there was a high number of contacts made to the Helpline about this issue, with a total of 1,276 across the two months.
The charity says, "The summer holidays can be a particularly challenging time for parents as they try to balance the competing demands of work and childcare. To cope, some adults might consider leaving their children home alone."
A parent, who contacted the Helpline, said:
“I’m after some advice. I have a situation where I will have to either leave my two kids (aged 12 and 8) at home by themselves or make alternative care arrangements over summer.
"I am separated and, for the next two weeks, I have to travel to another part of the country for work. I have asked my neighbour for help but she can only be there in the afternoons.
"I am aware that kids above 12 can be by themselves if they are comfortable with it. But what if there are younger kids with them in the same house? Is it okay to leave them home alone too?”
Also, as more children are left alone, there might be increased concerns from neighbours, friends, family, and the public who notice problems when parents are not home.