Childline busier than ever: 150 welfare or abuse calls a day

Several factors play into the rise in demand for child protection charity Childline’s services.

A new awareness among children of their rights, greater opportunities to express their fears and their ever-growing technical capacity to communicate all feed into the idea of busier helplines.

That, however, would be deliberately not seeing the wood from the trees.

Last year, Childline answered 381,911 calls — more than 1,000 a day.

Not all of these were distress calls but most sought help in one way or another.

Personal life issues provoked 43% of traffic and, most seriously, abuse and welfare issues were at the root of 15% of calls — 150 a day or so.

. @ISPCCChildline answered over 350,000 calls last year. It expects to answer it's 7 millionth call before the end of 2018. pic.twitter.com/tMe6PjQvEk

— Nicole Gernon (@nicole_gernon) May 28, 2018

This, in a country that has just gone through a terribly divisive process over children’s rights, is a startling and revealing figure.

That it came to light through the efforts of volunteers, often overwhelmed volunteers, tells yet another story.

According to CEO Grainia Long, it costs about €10,000 a day — €3.5m a year — to run Childline and it relies on public or corporate support for more than 90% of funding.

She also pointed out that the organisation experienced some difficulties recruiting volunteers and would welcome interest from anyone who believes they could play the hugely important role of listening to the troubled children who contact Childline.

That seems a perfect opportunity for those who campaigned so vigorously over recent months to do something more immediate than argue about children’s rights.