Childline

Contact the NSPCC Helpline

You can contact our Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, or by emailing [email protected] between 11am and 4pm, seven days a week. If you send an email when the service is closed, it won't be received, and we won't know that you've tried to get in touch.

If we have not yet responded to you and your concerns for the safety of a child increase, please contact the police or local Children’s Services directly. Please be assured that we'll action all contacts that our Helpline receives.

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Under 18?

Childline offers free, confidential advice and support whatever your worry, whenever you need help.

0800 1111

Contact Childline

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We give children and young people a voice when no one else is listening. Whatever problems or dangers they face, our Childline service gives them somewhere to turn to for support when they need it.

Bullying, mental health, troubles at home – there are many reasons children and young people may need to call Childline.

And, thanks to people like you, Childline is there to support them when they need it most.

Our Childline counsellors are there for young people every day of the year. Whatever issue they're going through, no matter how big or small, our counsellors have been here to listen and help for the last 40 years.

How to contact Childline

Anyone in the UK under 19 can:

access online 1-2-1 counselling via chat
send an email to a counsellor from their locker
call 0800 1111

Childline also offers other useful tools and advice for all sorts of issues they may be dealing with.

Childline 40

For almost 40 years, Childline has listened to children in the UK and Channel Islands. Since Childline started in 1986, we've delivered over six million counselling sessions. We've helped millions more through Childline’s online resources.

Find out more

Hear from some of the young people Childline has helped

Tamsin

"I would reach out to Childline pretty much every night to voice what was going on."

During school Tamsin struggled with her mental health, and by 16 she'd developed an eating disorder that left her in hospital. Childline's 24/7 support helped her manage at night and encouraged her to open up to her friend.

Read Tamsin's story

Hollie

"Childline became my lifeline."

After she was diagnosed with epilepsy Hollie began experiencing panic attacks and anxiety that left her in hospital and ultimately attempting to take her own life.

Read Hollie's story

Thomas

"I thought it was a safe platform because it was designed for and targeted at young people."

Thomas was groomed and blackamiled online. He felt like he had no one to turn to – until he called Childline.

Read Thomas' Story

Childline highlights through the years

2026

Childline celebrates its 40th birthday. Since starting in 1986, we've delivered over six million counselling sessions. We've helped millions more through Childline’s online resources.

2020

Figures show the pressing needs of children and young people during Covid restrictions, with Childline delivering over 100,000 counselling sessions between April and September 2020.

2019/2020

Trained volunteer Childline counsellors, alongside a smaller number of staff counsellors, delivered over 250,000 counselling sessions – providing over 176,000 hours of listening.

2009

Childline.org.uk launches, offering children and young people help and advice online for the first time.

2006

NSPCC and Childline formally join forces to support and help more children and young people across the UK.

2000

Childline joins the Home Office Taskforce on Child Protection on the Internet – providing advice for industries, parents and children on how to stay safe online.

1999

Childline counsels its millionth child.

1989

Childline successfully campaigned for the Children Act 1989 to promote the safeguarding and welfare of children.

1986

Childline was launched, and on its first night 50,000 children jammed the phone lines.

Please click the arrows to view all our highlights

Ask Sam

Any child or young person can write a letter to Sam, and each week Sam answers a few letters to provide people with advice on topics such as relationships, family, school, health, bullying or feelings.

Ask Sam a question

Calm zone

Life can sometimes feel overwhelming for young people. Everyone is different, which is why Childline has lots of different exercises and activities in the Calm zone to help children feel calmer and let go of stress.

Explore the Calm zone

Games

Sometimes it's just helpful to have a way to take your mind off things and have some fun. Childline has a range of different types of games and puzzles to suit any mood or taste.

Discover Childline games

Lockers

Children can sign-up for a Childline account, where they get their own personal locker. They can then access 1-2-1 counsellor chats, post on the message boards, and save any useful pages on the site – everything is kept fully confidential.

Create a locker

Supporting d/Deaf children and young people

Two teenagers smiling while socialising with friends.

This includes a SignVideo service which allows children and young people to contact a Childline counsellor via an interpreter.

We're committed to being there for every child who needs us. Childline has a range of advice and resources for children and young people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.

Visit Childline's Deaf Zone

You might also be interested in...

Colin's story

Colin Butler has been volunteering since Childline opened in October 1986. People like Colin give their time and energy to ensure we can be there for children and young people.

View Colin's story

A group of teenagers smiling while socialising with each other.

Become a volunteer

On average, a child contacts Childline every 45 seconds, and you can help us be there for them when they need us. Just four hours out of your week can help thousands of children and young people in a variety of roles.

Volunteer for Childline

Businesses supporting children and young people

On behalf of all the children and young people we help every year, we'd like to say a huge thanks to our partner Lidl GB for committing to raise £2,000,000 over two years for our Childline service and help ensure no child goes unheard.

Become a Corporate Partner