25/07/2005

Urgent appeal launched to raise funds for Childline

An urgent appeal has been launched to raise funds for children's helpline Childline, after it was announced that its nighttime service might be forced to close.

Childline provides a 24-hour helpline for children who are in danger or distress. However, due to a shortage of funds, the charity may have to shut its nighttime service, which is staffed by paid employees rather than volunteers, in order to keep the daytime and evening services running.

Childline's nighttime service runs between 9:30pm and 7:30am. The charity says the number of children requiring counselling during the night often dropped to single figures. However, one in six callers faced severe difficulties and distress, which resulted in referral to the emergency or social services.

During 2003 - 2004, Childline provided help to nearly 9,000 callers during the nighttime service hours.

The charity's founder Esther Rantzen said: “Many of the desperate children we speak to overnight are facing real emergencies and don’t know where else to turn for help.

“In the loneliest hours of the night we have called ambulances for children who have tried to commit suicide, found shelter for children thrown out of their homes and called the police or social service for childre who can no longer live with the abuse they’ve endured."

Donations to the appeal can be made by contacting: 0800 876 6000 or via the website at: www.childline.org.uk

(KMcA/SP)

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