MPs help mark 30 years of Childline
TO mark 30 years of Childline, the free 24-hour counselling service for children and young people, South Ribble MP Seema Kennedy attended a special event with its founder, Dame Esther Rantzen.
The event took place at Portcullis House in London, on November 2, and was hosted by Nigel Huddleston, MP for Mid Worcestershire.
There were also presentations from a Childline counsellor and six NSPCC Young Ambassadors.
Dame Esther spoke about how Childline is more in demand than ever, counselling more than 300,000 children and young people every year.
She also explained that since the charity introduced online support and counselling in 2009, more than two-thirds (71%) of the counselling sessions take place online.
Childline counsellor, Michelle Turnbull, who has been volunteering for Childline for five years, gave the Peers and MPs an insight into the sessions.
She described the time she took a call from a young girl who was suicidal and listened and spoke to her for more than hour, they even wrote a song together.
Two months later the girl called Childline back, to give counsellors an update on her progress.
Seema also got the chance to talk to children who had used Childline and understand how it changed their lives.
Ms Kennedy said, “I remember Dame Esther Rantzen setting up Childline when I was young.
“Listening to the children’s experiences of using the service, it really helped me understand how important Childline is for so many young people.
“I am so pleased that after 30 years it is still going strong and providing a safe and confidential service to children who have no one else to turn to.”
Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, said: “This event was a great way to continue Childline’s 30th birthday celebrations, with Dame Esther Rantzen – as always – leading the way.
“It was particularly moving hearing from the Childline counsellor and how she helps children and young people on a daily basis, some of whom find themselves in the most desperate of circumstances.”
During Childline’s birthday week, the NSPCC released data revealing a 35% rise in anxiety in the past year, with 11,706 children and young people counselled by Childline in 2015/16 compared with 8,642 in 2014/15.
An increasing number of children and young people are being struck down by the problem, with causes ranging from personal and family issues to concerns about world affairs such as the EU referendum, the US election and troubles in the Middle East.