Childline launches 'Stay Silent' campaign to make move online

RTE’s Fair City teen star Niamh Quirke is supporting Childline’s campaign ‘Stay Silent So Children Can Be Heard’.

The campaign is a bid to encourage the nation to hold a Sponsored Silence on Friday, May 2, to help Childline make the leap from a traditional phone listening service into the online world.

It is in recognition of the fact that young people are turning away from the traditional phone call and moving to the online world for advice and support.

Niamh and Childline are challenging the people of Ireland to 'Stay Silent' for a minimum of 30 minutes.

No Facebook, no Twitter, no emails, no texting, no speaking - signifying the damaging effects and isolation children experience when they are not heard.

Niamh’s Fair City character, vulnerable Rachel Brennan, was humiliated, blackmailed, taunted and mocked at the hands of bullies on the soap recently.

Mary Gamble, Director of Fundraising at Childline, said: "Childline Online has been developed to ensure that children can contact our volunteers in a way in which they feel comfortable. Currently, Childline Online is open from 10am until 10pm.

"Our ‘Stay Silent’ appeal aims to raise funds to expand the Childline Online service to be a 24-hour lifeline for children who, in their darkest moments, have a connection to someone who is there to listen, support and help them."

Last year Childline received nearly 700,000 calls and contacts from vulnerable children reaching out for help. Due to a lack of funding 1 in 3 calls go answered. We receive 5% statutory funding for Childline, with the remaining 95% coming from donations from the public and the generosity of our corporate supporters

For more information on how to host your ‘Stay Silent’ event, log onto www.ispcc.ie/staysilent and download your fundraising pack or call the fundraising team on 1850 50 40 50.

Donations can also be made via text by texting the word SILENT to 50300 to donate €2 to Childline.