Charity: ChildLine
Each year hundreds of children are sexually, physically or mentally abused and a large percent of the time it’s by someone they know very well. ChildLine is a 20-year-old charity fighting for children’s justice and aiming to make the world a safe place for the UK’s youngsters.
‘That’s Life!’ was a popular 1980’s chat show tackling consumer issues and one particular episode focused on the subject of sexual abuse. Both the BBC and the show’s presenter, Esther Rantzen were astounded at the number of calls that their phone line received, and set up the show’s helpline called ‘ChildWatch’. ChildWatch’s thousands of young callers prompted Rantzen and ‘That’s Life’s’ producer Sarah Caplin to set up ‘ChildLine’, a national freephone helpline for children to call anonymously if they feel they need advice or simply someone to talk to about their unfortunate experiences.
The number of both children and adults in the UK who had experienced sexual abuse was shocking, and previously underestimated. Due to this new demand for helplines, Rantzen and Caplin soon found their charity in financial difficulty and decided to merge with the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) in 2006.
Presently, ChildLine has volunteer counsellors manning 13 call centres across the UK who provide a 24 hour free service to distressed children. The children who call ChildLine need talk about a wide range of problems, including physical and sexual abuse, bullying, family welfare and teenage pregnancy.
ChildLine does not only provide a helpline for children to call when they are upset. Over the past 21 years this charity has helped children facing homelessness to find a place to live and has even saved lives.
Donating to ChildLine involves a minimum payment of £3 per month (around 10p per day) via direct debit, and this provides counsel for one child. This is not, however, the only way in which the public can help ChildLine to continue it’s services. Fundraising events such as sponsored runs, walks and bike rides are set up by the Charity, along with national events such as gigs and concerts which all help to raise the necessary funding. Alternative methods of donation include leaving a legacy in a will, donating a cheque or shopping on Ebay, Yellow Moon, BT, Energy Bills, Florida car hire and Boxhappy. Each of these retail sites offer products and services that donate a certain percentage of the money that you spend on them to ChildLine.
Filed under: Childrens Charities