Esther Rantzen CBE visits ChildLine Leeds

In celebration of ChildLine's 25th anniversary, ChildLine founder and TV presenter, Esther Rantzen CBE visited the ChildLine base in Leeds to pay tribute to volunteers for their ongoing commitment to helping children.

Esther Rantzen CBE said: "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful ChildLine staff and volunteers at our Leeds base, because without them this vital lifeline for children and young people could not continue.

"ChildLine helps thousands of young people who desperately need support and advice with problems they dare not share with anyone else, such as bullying, self-harm, sexual and physical abuse and depression. Our trained volunteer counsellors work around the clock to ensure that the most vulnerable young people can get the protection and support they need, transforming and sometimes even saving precious young lives.

ChildLine, the UK's free 24-hour confidential helpline for children and young people, has been providing support and advice across the UK since 1986. Over the last 12 months, ChildLine has counselled more than 265,000 children and young people. Last year, the Leeds base received over 15,400 contacts from children from across the UK.