03/11/2014

Childline Night Service Under Threat Of Closure

As many as 45,000 calls could go unanswered by children and young people in need next year if Childline is forced to cancel its night service.

The charity, which currently runs a 24-hour service, says it is in need of emergency funding if the service is to remain operational.

Between January and September 2014, more than 21% of calls to the charity involved issues of abuse, mental health or personal welfare.

The new figures released by Childline also show that 44% of calls answered by the charity related to Personal Life, with 14% of calls related to Abuse and Welfare. 11% of calls related to Sexuality, 7.5% of calls related to Mental Health and 6% of calls were related to Relationships. Some 17.5% of calls, were requests for information, they added.

Caroline O'Sullivan, interim CEO of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) which runs the Childline service, is quoted as saying: "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."

(JP/CD)

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