ChildLine needs more volunteers in Greater Manchester

ChildLine North West is calling on people from Rochdale to become volunteer counsellors as plans to expand the helpline service are revealed.

The base, in the heart of Manchester city centre, currently has around 100 volunteers and hopes to increase this to 150 by spring 2009. A number of volunteers already come from Rochdale to counsel children who need someone to turn to.

A year ago ChildLine founder and president Esther Rantzen visited staff and counsellors at the base and appealed for more volunteers in the region. One year on, the recruitment call is being repeated as the service hopes to have even more capacity to answer more calls for help and support. Plans to expand the service so that every child’s call can be answered include the expansion of the ChildLine website so that children and young people can speak to a counsellor online by the end of 2009.

Volunteer counsellors will be trained to answer children’s worries or concerns online making the service more widely available and accessible. The training for online counsellors will be the same as telephone counsellors and it is not necessary to have any IT qualifications. ChildLine will provide a comprehensive training package to enable volunteers to give the best possible service to children and young people who need help and advice.

New volunteers will help to support the children’s free 24-hour helpline service in Manchester, which is one of 13 bases across England and Wales. ChildLine North West has answered more than a million calls since opening its base in the city centre in 1992.

Local children and young people have turned to ChildLine counsellors about a wide range of problems over the last 16 years, with the most common problems being bullying, sexual and physical abuse, and breakdowns in family relationships.

Chris Dunn, ChildLine volunteer coordinator said: “We believe that every child who needs someone to turn to must have access to confidential help and support whenever they need it. Our aim is to provide every child with the help they need 24 hours a day.

“Currently one third of the children who call ChildLine every day can’t get through. What’s more, 60 per cent of children who need in depth counselling don’t get through to a counsellor. We want people in Manchester to take notice of this fact and realise that they can do something to help.

“You don’t need to have any counselling qualifications because we provide all the training you need to work at ChildLine. I would urge anyone who is interested in this opportunity to join me at an information meeting to find out more.”

George Bramley, 23, from Heaton Mersey is a trainee accountant and volunteer counsellor. He said: “Children call about all kinds of issues, from bullying and school-related issues to bereavement, religion, domestic violence or sexuality. They can call about anything and you never know what the next call will be. What you can be sure of at ChildLine is that you will be well trained and well supported. The experience I’ve gained as a counsellor has taught me how to listen and be aware of people’s feelings.

“Anyone who is thinking about counselling should do it. The training is brilliant and I look forward to my counselling sessions every week. It’s great to know I’m helping someone else.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to attend a volunteer information meeting to find out more. To register your interest please contact 0870 336 2920 or e-mail childlinenw@nspcc.org.uk