Childline goes digital

Childline has taken a further step to reach out to vulnerable children by going online and creating a website.

Helped by the NSPCC’s ‘How u feelin’ campaign, it aims to reach out to more children that need their help, providing a new environment for those that may be too scared to pick up the phone.

The www.childline.org site allows children to email Childline, chat to a counsellor and speak to each other on the message boards for more help and reassurance.

They can express themselves by uploading poems, pictures, and selecting emotion-like ‘moodies’, to show others how they are doing; with the knowledge help is only a click away if they need it.

They can also use the website to watch videos, explore other issues, play games, and create badges.

The site has been launched after an online NSPCC poll found that one in three UK children describe feeling emotional distress most of the time, including anger, sadness, depression, loneliness and stress.

The poll also found that one in eight children didn’t talk to anyone if they need help and advice, which rises to one in five amongst 14-16 year old boys.

NSPCC Chief Executive Andrew Flanagan says, “Hundreds of thousands of children phone ChildLine every year because they are so distressed and feel they have no one else to turn to. Our new ChildLine online service is there for vulnerable children who would rather talk online than on the phone, giving them even more choice in how they seek help.”

"ChildLine is growing - thanks in part to Government funding and also the public giving generously through the NSPCC's Child's Voice Appeal. This support means we can be there for more children, whatever their worry and however they want to contact us."

The NSPCC's Child's Voice Appeal launched in September 2008 and aims to raise £50m over three years so that their help lines can answer more calls. The appeal has so far raised £18.6million across the UK.