Childline Supporting children and young people for over 35 years
Our Childline service gives children and young people a voice when no one else is listening. Whatever problems or dangers they face, we give them somewhere to turn to for support when they need it.
Childline is free to contact on 0800 1111. Childline counsellors are here to take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from children and young people under 19.
Childline counsellors are also available to speak to online through 1-2-1 chat and via email.
Always here for children
Bullying, mental health, troubles at home, there are many reasons young people may need to call Childline.
However, thanks to you, Childline is there to support children and young people when they need it most.
Our Childline counsellors are there for young people every day of the year. Whatever issue young people are going through, no matter how big or small, our counsellors are here to listen and help.
As well as online 1-2-1 counselling, children and young people can also speak to Childline counsellors by sending an email from their Locker or by calling 0800 1111. They can explore a range of other useful Childline tools and advice for all sorts of issues they may be dealing with too.
Hear from some of the young people Childline has helped
"I have been seeing a counsellor at school for the last few years which has helped. I only see them once a week so in between I look at the Childline website for tips on managing anger and stress."
Boy, 13, Childline website user
"I just wanted to thank Childline for the chat yesterday. Your support saved my friendship. Everything is better now, and I am so relieved. I will definitely come back to Childline if I ever need support again."
Girl, 11, counselled by Leeds Childline base
"Having someone reply to me on the message boards to say I helped shows the difference I can make, even if it’s really small. I can be the reason why someone keeps going and it also shows it’s not just me, we’re not alone in what we’re going through and that’s just relief"
Childline message board user
"I’m so grateful to Childline for listening to me. The advice you give always helps me to think clearer so I can make better decisions in my life. I feel so much better now."
Young person who called Childline, aged 14
"I really love that you have this community created for all ages. I’ve been trying to find places like this, so thank you for having this where we can talk and support each other. I doubt there is another just as supportive and safe message boards anywhere."
Childline message board user
Supporting deaf children and young people
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.
This includes a SignVideo service which allows children and young people to contact a Childline counsellor via an interpreter.
Visit Childline's Deaf Zone to find out more.
Childline resources for your child
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.
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.
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.
Young people can share their experiences and talk to others on the Childline message boards. This supportive environment gives them a safe space to speak about how they're feeling or ask questions from those in similar situations.
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 - and everything is kept fully confidential.
Businesses supporting children and young people
Your support helps us continue our vital work with the children and young people who need us most.
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 million over 2 years for our Childline service to help ensure no child goes unheard.
Childline highlights through the years
1986
Childline was launched, and on its first night 50,000 children jammed the phone lines.
1989
Childline successfully campaigned for the Children Act 1989 to promote the safeguarding and welfare of children.
1999
Childline counsels its millionth child.
2000
Childline joins the Home Office taskforce for Child Protection on the Internet - providing advice for industries, parents, and children on how to stay safe online.
2006
NSPCC and Childline formally join forces to support and help more children and young people across the UK.
2009
Childline.org.uk launches, offering children and young people help and advice online for the first time.
2019 / 2020
Trained volunteer Childline counsellors, alongside a smaller amount of staff counsellors, delivered over 250,000 counselling sessions - providing over 176,000 hours of listening.
2020
Figures show the pressing needs of children and young people during COVID-19 restrictions, with Childline delivering over 100,000 counselling sessions between April and September 2020.