1,200 contacts for reprieved Childline on Christmas Day

Childline received more than 1,200 calls, texts, and other messages on Christmas Day, traditionally one of its busiest days of the year.

A team of 57 volunteers responded to 1,208 calls, texts, and messages over the 24 hours of Christmas Day, with three quarters of contacts coming from males.

The huge number of calls to Childline, which is operated by the ISPCC, comes just a week after funding was finally secured to allow the helpline to continue operating as a 24-hour service for at least the next two years.

The ISPCC had warned that it would have to cut Childline to a 20-hour service — losing four overnight hours— unless it made up a funding deficit of €1.2m.

Following a high-profile campaign, it raised more than half that amount before the Department of Children stepped in to provide extra funding.

The ISPCC secured €400,000, with pledges of another €300,000, plus the financial support from the Government, with Margie Roe, national Childline manager, stating: “It will give us some security into 2015.”

She said that the number of contacts made to Childline this Christmas was down somewhat compared to the 1,400 received last year, although she said Christmas Day 2013 had been “exceptionally busy”.

Childline can receive as many as 1,800 contacts a day and many of the calls and texts received on Christmas Day revolved around issues of domestic issues, alcohol use in the home, mental health issues, and general unhappiness.

Typically, around 69% of calls are answered, and Ms Roe said many were to thank the service for being there throughout the year.

“The calls cover a wide range of issues, but we had some lovely call backs from children saying thanks for being there through the year,” said Ms Roe. “Others were saying they were delighted that we are staying open 24 hours a day. Others were wishing us a happy Christmas and having a chat about the day; and some children and young people were not having a great day.”

Ms Roe added that some online contacts even come from children overseas attracted by the “non-judgemental ethos” of the service.

She said the fears of cuts to the service had been “very stressful for all concerned” and that the ISPCC was now intent on continuing to raise money to help support the service into the future.

“While Childline will not be able to solve all of these children’s issues and concerns on Christmas Day, what we can and will continue to do is listen to, believe and empower them and most importantly of all we will show these children that we care.”

Donations can be made at www.savechildline24.ie or a €4 text donation can be made by texting ‘Childline’ to 5791 Childline: Call 1800 66 66 66 or text 50101.