BT - A founding partner

Without the support of BT in the beginning, ChildLine would not have exisited.

Making the connection

Since 1986, BT and ChildLine, working together, have helped to transform children's lives. Over the years, BT has provided the ChildLine service with ongoing support including:

• its simple and memorable freephone number for children to call – 0800 1111
• the donation of office space
• telephony support
• strategic and technical advice
• the encouragement of their employees to volunteer as ChildLine counsellors
• the donation of millions of pounds worth of gifts in kind 
• £10 million in financial support.

Beth Coutier, Community Investment Programme Manager, says: "When Esther Ranzten called in 1986, we answered immediately - and we have been helping ChildLine answer the calls of young people who need to talk and be listened to ever since.

BT truly believes that better communications will lead to a better world and that listening to children and young people will result in real benefits for the whole of society."

Fundraising initiatives

Fundraising for ChildLine involves participation for BT at all levels. Underlying all these initiatives are people at BT wanting to make a difference to children's lives.

Donation of £1 for every phone bought

By donating £1 for every phone sold BT are helping to enable ChildLine to answer more calls, giving more children the chance to talk when they feel scared or alone.

As a thank you to customers who purchase a phone over the Christmas period, BT have pledged to make the donation to ChildLine on their behalf, and customers will receive a specially designed bauble for their Christmas tree to remind them of the special gift to children they've been a part of.

For more information, on this initiative, please contact NSPCC corporate fundraising manager, Leona McEvoy on 028 9035 7976.

Harnessing business opportunities

The BT Community Investment team identifies opportunities to deliver business benefits as well as societal benefits for ChildLine. A consumer survey which incentivised customers to complete the survey by donating £1 to ChildLine, raised £1.3 million. A promotion with BT Answer 157, raised £200,000. A promotion of the BT Yahoo! search engine raised £110,000.

People power - employee fundraising

Employee fundraising at BT is organised and promoted by the incredibly successful Charity Programme team at BT. Staff are provided with opportunities to fundraise in organised activities as well as being encouraged to do their own thing.

Each year, BT employees take part in a multitude of fundraising activities from cake sales to treks in the Himalayas. BT employees have raised money through Defeat Bullying, which BT sponsored once again this year, team challenges, taking part in the London marathon and holding book sales.
 
 "I love fundraising for ChildLine and find it very rewarding - it is great that local fundraising can make a huge difference to young people all over the country. BT not only supports me but positively encourages me and recognises my efforts"
Jody Odey, BT Call Centre Team Manager and employee fundraiser.

A number of BT employees also offer their time to ChildLine as volunteer counsellors for the service.