The thousands of 'hidden' children in Greater Manchester who have slipped through the net in lockdown
Up to 6,000 children who normally would have been referred to social services in Greater Manchester have potentially been missed during lockdown.Social care professionals are calling for a change in approach to tackle the ‘hidden harm’ faced by children who are stuck at home with abusive family members while schools remain closed.Alison Alexander, the CEO of children’s services support organisation Cornerstone, said referrals have dropped in many parts of the UK by 50pc, and by up to 75pc in some places.She said children are facing appalling mistreatment, starvation, abuse and sexual exploitation and Greater Manchester’s most vulnerable children could be slipping through the support net.In normal circumstances, 624 children are on average