Childline: Halting night service means 45,000 unanswered calls

Childline says 45,000 calls will go unanswered next year as it is forced to stop its night service.

The charity has issued an emergency public appeal for €1.2m in funding to keep the 24-hour service operational.

Childline has issued new figures which show that issues of abuse, personal welfare and mental health accounted for more than 21% of calls answered between January and September.

Childline revealed the share of calls from January to September 2014 under six main issues are:

44% of calls answered by Childline related to Personal life

14% of calls related to Abuse and Welfare

11% of calls related to Sexuality

7.5% of calls related to Mental Health

6% of calls related to Relationships

17.5% of calls were requests for information

ISPCC interim CEO, Caroline O’Sullivan, said: "My greatest concern is for the many children who are in abusive situations that account for 14% of our calls. These children really need us on a 24/7 basis and thousands of these children will not be heard next year if we cannot raise the funds to keep the night service open.

"Childline is, and wants to remain, a service that gives children and young people a voice."

The Childline Emergency appeal ‘SaveChildline24’ runs through the month of November.

Donations can be made online at www.savechildline24.ie or a €4 text donation can be made by texting CHILDLINE to 57911 (Texts cost €4. A minimum of €3.20 will go directly to Childline).