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ChildLine's 20th anniversary

Journalist briefing, December 2006

Brief History of ChildLine
In 2006 ChildLine, the UK's, free, confidential, 24 hour helpline for children and young people celebrated its 20th anniversary. Founded in 1986, the telephone counselling service, which is now one of the NSPCC's listening services, was set up in response to the reaction of viewers of BBC1 programme 'That's Life' who were participating in a survey on sexual abuse. The response was so overwhelming that 'That's Life' presenter Esther Rantzen decided to set up ChildLine on a special BBC programme Childwatch. On the launch night there were over 50,000 attempted calls to ChildLine from children desperate to talk about abuse, to get advice and in many cases to help make the abuse stop.

From that one programme ChildLine has grown into 11 counselling centres across the UK, counselling approximately 157,000 children each year with over 1,400 volunteer counsellors.

In the past 20 years the main reason for calling ChildLine has shifted from sexual abuse to bullying with over 37,000 children calling in 2005 / 2006 to talk about this issue. ChildLine volunteer counsellors also give advice to children on issues including physical abuse, family relationship problems, teenage pregnancy, eating disorders, self harm, homelessness and suicide.

Since its launch ChildLine has helped nearly two million children and has also helped set up children's helpline in countries such as Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, India and Trinidad and Tobago.

ChildLine's achievements

Over the past 20 years ChildLine has been campaigning to change children's lives for the better. Some of the major achievements include:

  • 1987 BT sends out largest ever telephone bill mailshot, raising over £1million for ChildLine.
  • 1989 ChildLine campaigns for family courts and the introduction of screen and video links for vulnerable witnesses.
  • 1993 ChildLine co-hosts the International Forum for Child Welfare.
  • 1996 Diana Princess of Wales launches ChildLine's 10th birthday appeal which raises £7 million.
  • 1998 ChildLine's schools outreach programme (CHIPS) is launched
  • 1999 ChildLine holds an international conference Hearing children's Voices, addressed by Cherie Booth QC, Jack Straw MO and Hillary Clinton.
  • 2003 ChildLine works closely with the Home Office and Parliament on the creation of the Sexual Offences Act.
  • 2005 As a result of a desperate need for funding ChildLine launches its Night Service Appeal.
  • 2006 ChildLine becomes part of the NSPCC.

What is the 20th anniversary appeal?

ChildLine's 20th anniversary wanted to acknowledge the success of the helpline but also publicise the fact that while the helpline receives 4,500 calls a day there is only capacity to answer 2,500, which means many children don't reach the help they so desperately need.

While calls to ChildLine are free to the children calling the helpline, it costs ChildLine £3 to answer each call and £38 to counsel a child. To train a volunteer counsellor costs £1598. ChildLine relies on voluntary donations from the public for 90% of its income, only 10% is from statutory funding so every penny really does count.

If ChildLine is to increase the number of calls it answers then it needs to raise more money to be able to do this. The 20th birthday appeal set a target of raising 20million pounds - enough to help another 1,000 children every day.

Fundraising Aims and Objectives of the 20th year

Events have been taking place throughout 2006 to reach the £20 million target. These include:

  • Monaco Gala Dinner with guests of honour the Countess of Wessex and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
  • ChildLine London Marathon. A dedicated team of runners with Kermit the Frog as star cheerleader!
  • Support from corporate supporters including BT, Disney and IPC Media
  • ChildLine annual birthday ball.
  • BBC1 documentary in March 2006 to launch the birthday appeal.
  • Beneficiaries of the premier of Pirates of the Caribbean 2.

The fundraising is continuing into 2007 and money raised will be used to recruit and train new volunteer counsellors doubling the number of active volunteer counsellors to over 2,800 ensuring even more calls can be answered.

Donations to ChildLine's 20th Birthday Appeal can be made now by

  • ringing 0800 876 6000,
  • or writing to 20th Birthday Appeal, ChildLine, 45 Folgate Street, London, E1 6GL.