Have you got what it takes to help a young person on Childline?

Could you help Childline children?

Childline, Ireland’s national listening service for children and young people, is now recruiting for volunteers in the Drogheda area to take calls.

Information evenings for anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering with the service will take place at the ISPCC Childline office, Distillery House, Dyer Street, Drogheda, on Tuesday 29th and listen to Thursday 31st January, beginning at 7pm both evenings.

Each year, Childline answers over 380,000 contacts from children and young people by phone, text and online chat. Children contact Childline for a wide variety of reasons; they may feel lonely, anxious, scared or upset, or may simply wish to chat about their day. Childline offers a 24-hour free, confidential and non-judgmental listening service to every child and young person up to the age of 18 in Ireland.

“There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing you have helped a child,” says Childline volunteer Lorraine. “Without Childline, these children may not have anyone to listen to them, but Childline is always there.” “When a child says thank you, I feel I have made a difference just by being there and listening to what they have to say. We should all have someone we feel we can talk to,” adds Childline volunteer Peter.

Childline is staffed by a team of volunteers and staff members who train and supervise volunteers to ensure a consistent and high-quality service to children and young people. Volunteers who help Childline do not require any prior experience or qualifications.

They complete comprehensive training before answering their first contact and receive ongoing support and upskilling for the duration of their time as a volunteer.

An excellent team atmosphere and spirit of camaraderie and peer support prevails at each Childline office throughout the country. Childline volunteers complete weekly fourhour shifts and facilitate Childline’s 24-hour phone line, live text and webchat services. “The Childline training course is a comprehensive course which equips volunteers with the skills to deliver a quality service to children,” says Interim National Childline Manager, Emma McCluskey.

“All Childline volunteers are trained in active listening skills and child-centered practice and receive ongoing training and support throughout the year.”

If you would like more information, see ispcc.ie/volunteering, email Edel. Myers@ispcc.ie or call 041 9833406.