AN RSPCA campaign to improve animal welfare among youngsters in Ellesmere Port and Neston has received the backing of the area's MP.

Justin Madders attended the RSPCA's drop-in in the House of Commons to hear about how its Generation Kind initiative helps teach compassion to new generations and encourage action to protect animals.

Research by the RSPCA revealed that nearly a quarter of school children aged 10-18 have witnessed animal cruelty and neglect on social media. Generation Kind, the charity's biggest ever education and prevention programme, was developed to help address this.

Mr Madders said: "I'm proud to support the RSPCA and the work that they do to promote animal welfare in Ellesmere Port and Neston. It was good to hear about their current initiative and to be able to thank them on behalf of the animal lovers in our area.

"However, I am saddened that young children are being exposed to horrific incidents of animal suffering online, in ways previous generations have simply not experienced.

"Through the Generation Kind series of projects, designed to make children think about the importance of animal welfare, the RSPCA is working hard to create a generation of youngsters who treat animals with kindness, compassion and respect.

"We all have a duty to raise the next generation to be kind and compassionate to animals and I will continue to work closely with the RSPCA to help improve standards of animal welfare in our area and across the UK."

  • More details about the RSPCA Generation Kind campaign can be found at www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/education.