NSPCC - Help and advice - Who to turn to

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Who to turn to: Projects in your area; Child protection enquiry; ChildLine; NSPCC Helpline; Protecting disabled children

ChildLine – 0800 1111

Championing children for more than 18 years

ChildLine is the UK's free and confidential, 24-hour helpline for children in distress or danger. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people who may feel they have nowhere else to turn.

Almost 1,400 volunteers provide a counselling service, supervised by a team of professional supervisors and managers. Every day around 4,500 children call ChildLine, but lack of funds means that only 2,500 of them will get through to our counsellors for comfort, advice and protection.

What do children call about?

Children call ChildLine about a wide range of problems, but the most common problems are abuse (both sexual and physical), bullying, serious family tensions, worries about friends' welfare and teenage pregnancy.

How does ChildLine help?

Since it was launched in 1986, ChildLine has saved children's lives, found refuges for children in danger on the streets, and given hope to thousands of children who believed no one else cared for them. ChildLine has now counselled well over one million children and young people.

ChildLine campaigns on behalf of children by relaying what they tell us to policy-makers who can help change children's lives for the better.

ChildLine also provides an outreach service to schools and youth groups through its CHIPS programme.

Where are we?

ChildLine operates out of 11 counselling centres around the UK: Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Leeds, London, Nottingham, Manchester, Swansea, Rhyl, Birmingham and Newton Abbot. The London centre operates a 24-hour service, but during peak hours when the other centres are open, children's calls go through to the nearest centre.