ChildLine braced for calls in Merseyside over the holidays

CHILDLINE volunteers in Liverpool are keeping lines open over the holidays to answer calls from children. Over the 12 days of Christmas last year (24 December 2010 to 5 January 2011), ChildLine volunteers Liverpool answered 407 cries for help from young people.

Children across the UK contacted ChildLine 2,373 times for in-depth online or telephone counselling on Christmas Day alone.

Family relationship problems, bullying and sexual abuse were the most common reasons for children to contact ChildLine over the Christmas holidays last year. Nearly one in six counselling sessions (13%) were about depression, self harm or suicide.

Last year (2010), the number of children contacting the 24-hour service about suicide over Christmas and New Year rose above the average for the year 1 with around 23 emails, phone calls and online chats per day from children who were feeling suicidal over the festive season.

Beccy Minshull, lives on the Wirral and is a 24 year old student studying to be a Social Worker. She has volunteered as a ChildLine counsellor for nearly a year and believes that children in today’s society really need someone to listen to them so they have a voice, and that all children should have someone they can reach out to in confidence.

Beccy worked on Christmas Day, and over the New Year. She said that:- "Christmas is generally viewed as a happy time, but in reality there are many children out there who have a dreadful Christmas. Every call is a privilege to take and I always remember calls where young people say that ChildLine is the only place where people will listen to them and not judge them. Also, in our diverse society we need to remember that not everybody celebrates Christmas and that at ChildLine we need to be available for every child when they need us."

ChildLine's volunteer counsellors give up their time throughout the festive period to enable the charity’s helpline to stay open 365 days a year. Director of ChildLine Peter Liver says the volunteers are a vital lifeline for children who feel they have nowhere else to turn. "On New Year’s Eve, when most people are heading out for a night on the town, ChildLine volunteers in Liverpool will be taking calls and messages from children who need someone to talk to. We couldn’t keep ChildLine open for children without their amazing commitment and dedication. While Christmas and New Year can be a time of celebration, for some young people the festivities can make their problems feel even more distressing."

Sally Gaskell, age 44, is another ChildLine Volunteer from the Wirral who has volunteered in Liverpool for over two and a half years. Sally works on the ChildLine online service, taking emails and 1-2-1 chats from Children and young people. "I firmly believe that we need to be able to answer contacts from children 24 hours a day, that’s why the service is so important. I volunteered for ChildLine because I was in a position where my kids had started school and I was looking for a charity to support. I remember ChildLine being launched and I really wanted to do something to help children and young people." said Sally.

Sally who will be working her shift on over New Year said that:- "Just because it’s Christmas, don’t think that children don’t need us, some kids need us more than ever if they are having problems, or even if they are just lonely at home. We need to be there for them. Some people might find it hard to believe that some children wake up on Christmas morning with no presents, but it is a harsh reality for some kids. I know that my children are settled and happy, and it’s great to be able to give up some time to help others."

Children who posted on ChildLine’s message boards about what they wanted their parents’ or carers’ New Year resolution to be said:- "I would want my parents to stop arguing, to understand that although there are walls in the house, it doesn’t mean that I can’t hear what is going on. I can hear all the anger and shouting downstairs, especially at night, when I just want to close my eyes and sleep. I would ask my dad to stop drinking and smoking as it is hurting others around him other than himself. For my mum to stop hitting me. That’s all I want. For mum to understand how I actually feel."

ChildLine will be there to help those children who need someone to turn to throughout the Christmas period, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Children can speak to a counsellor online or by telephone on:- 0800 1111.