Call for more volunteers as Childline’s Prestatyn base nears landmark 300,000 counselling sessions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen has called for more local people to volunteer at the charities North Wales HQ as latest figures reveal counsellors at the Prestatyn base have carried out a staggering 293,640 sessions in the 25 years since it opened.

As it approaches the landmark figure of 300,000 counselling sessions, and with the number of children and young people contacting Childline continuing to rise, Dame Esther made an appeal for local people to give up their spare time for Childline so it can reach even more children in the coming years.

Specially-trained volunteers have been counselling children in both Welsh and English since the North Wales base first opened its doors in 1992.

Last year alone the base, which now carries out counselling online as well as over the phone, handled 17,301 sessions on a wide range of issues faced by young people including bullying, abuse, family relationships, problems in school and mental health.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]

Dame Esther, who founded Childline in 1986 and is now its President said,

Childline wouldn’t be able to function without the wonderful support of all our volunteers, who show true warmth and compassion by making such a difference to children’s lives.

I have seen the difference Childline makes after speaking to many young adults who have used the service when they were children.

It gives them hope. Childline literally transforms lives but we could not do it without the compassion of our Prestatyn-based volunteers who are so skilled and committed.

Childline is now more important than ever, offering support and advice to children around the clock. It’s vital that children know we are always there for them, whether that’s on the phone, online or on our new app, For Me.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”53292″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d”][vc_column_text]Last year the most common concern dealt with by counsellors at the Prestatyn base was mental/emotional health with 3,813 contacts, making up 23% of all counselling sessions, followed by family relationships with 2,249 and bullying/cyberbullying with 1,700.

Debs Davies, head of Childline’s Prestatyn base, said:

Dame Esther Rantzen visiting our base is a massive boost to all our volunteers and will spur them on to keep supporting children through tough times.

Everyone here in Prestatyn is honoured to help make a difference to children’s lives and we’ve welcomed hearing Dame Esther’s advice and her ambitions for the future of Childline.

We are appealing for new volunteers to ensure we are always there for children and can provide help and support at crucial times.

Childline was launched in October 1986 by Dame Esther after a helpline set up after a BBC television programme she presented on child abuse, Childwatch, was inundated with calls. Some 23,000 children spoke to Childline in its first year

Since then, Childline has carried out four million counselling sessions from its 12 bases around the UK, with a dedicated network of 1,400 trained volunteer counsellors.

The average number of contacts to the NSPCC-run service has more than trebled since 1986 and more than two-thirds of children who contact Childline now do so online.

To find out more about volunteering, visit https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/volunteering-nspcc-childline/volunteer-childline-helpline/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]