The NSPCC is calling on individuals and businesses across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk to join its Childline 35 Club, to help it celebrate 35 years of Childline counselling children and young people.
To mark the milestone and ensure Childline can continue to be there for future generations, the leading children’s protection charity is calling for 35 companies to fundraise for Childline this year in a bid to raise £30,000 before the end of March 2022 – enough to cover the costs to run Childline for one day.
Founded by Dame Esther Rantzen in 1986, Childline merged with the NSPCC in 2006. This unique service is there to give young people a voice when no one else is listening. Whatever problems or dangers they’re facing, Childline provides a place for children and young people to turn to for support – every day of the week.
From April 2020 to January 2021 Childline counsellors delivered 170,000 counselling sessions to children and young people. Childline delivers an average of 17,000 counselling sessions each month, and during the first spring lockdown 50 children a day turned to Childline to talk about abuse or neglect. On average, before the pandemic, a child contacted Childline every 20 seconds and mental and emotional health has been the top concern for children and young people since the start of the first lockdown in March 2020.
Sarah Laffling, NSPCC Community Fundraising Manager said: “Thanks to the kind support and donations from companies and the public we have been able to deliver this invaluable service and we wouldn’t be able to do it without them. The 35 Club is not only a way for us to celebrate the past 35 years, but is also a way for local businesses to further support this necessary and very much needed service.
“This past year has been difficult for us all as we’ve watched our lives and the lives of our children alter in ways we didn’t think were possible. But through it all it has shown us that we can do so much when we work together, even if we have to keep our distance and together we really can make this a better year for children by supporting Childline.”
Local businesses, Elsie & Tom and Chenevix Jewellery, have already signed up to support this exciting new scheme.
Emma Pratt at Elsie & Tom said: “When we saw the statistics about how many local children benefit from the service we felt we had to step forward and join the 35 Club initiative.”
The prize draw is free to enter and entrants are invited to make a suggested donation to the NSPCC of £20 per entry. People keen to support are also being encouraged to raise money by doing a 35 related challenge like running, walking, cycling or even sitting for 35 minutes.
More information can be found here.
For more information about Childline 35 Club, including how to join, contact sarah.laffling@nspcc.org.uk or call 07974 028796.
