Online service 'benefitting Childline'

Written by Matthew Carter

Renowned kids' charity Childline is celebrating its 25th anniversary and over that time the organisation has seen growth from a single helpline to now boasting online charity consultancy.

The BBC reports that the group was founded by television personality Esther Rantzen in 1986 in a bid to help children better cope with a whole range of issues.

These included violence at home, neglect, bullying and even alcohol and drug problems.

A BBC TV programme focusing on child abuse was the catalyst for the formulation of the charity, as the corporation was inundated with calls following the broadcast.

Ms Rantzen helped to put together the helpline after realising there needed to be an accessible outlet for youngsters wishing to talk openly about the problems they were facing.

The phone service was set up 25 years ago but has now increased its offerings with the help of an online counselling service, while its model has been copied in 150 countries across the globe.

Around 2.6 million children have been assisted by the charity in the last quarter of a century, with the organisation starting off with 100 volunteers in a small office, who were receiving around 8,000 calls every day.

The service - which is provided by NSPCC Weston House - now has 12 call centres throughout the UK and its online charity communications tools have helped it reach and help more little ones than ever before.

Ms Rantzen noted people who first contacted the cause years ago still come up to her to pay thanks to the benefits such an outlet brought them in their younger years.

The former That's Life presenter said: "It's very moving. It inspires me to work harder [and] makes me feel immensely grateful to all those counsellors who gave those children the support, the comfort, the listening ear when they thought nobody in the world cared about them."

She added the help given by the team gives to youngsters "hope when they've been desperate, showed them ways of stopping the abuse or supporting them through the neglect".

But while people often needed to search for a telephone box in order to make a confidential call to the charity 25 years ago, the advent of the internet and mobile phones means it is now much easier for victims to get into contact with people trying to give them help.

Ms Rantzen explained: "Children suffering from deep depression, feeling suicidal - that kind of problem which children feel almost too ashamed to be able to talk about on the phone, they can bring to us online."

To celebrate the 25-year milestone, the charity held a fundraising ball and Ms Rantzen noted a woman approached her telling the story of how she used to ring Childline every day in order to build up the courage to tell the person who was abusing her to stop.

Ms Rantzen said it is stories like this that makes her even more determined to help kids who are needlessly suffering at the hands of others.

She added there are still fears certain members of society, such as disabled people and those from ethnic minorities, may still be struggling to get through - something online charity communications may be able to help with in the future.