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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Childline in volunteer appeal

This news post is almost 6 years old
 

The support service's Glasgow base needs a further 85 volunteers to ensure it can meet demand for advice

A charity is looking for volunteers to ensure that it can provide a vital support service for children.

Glasgow’s Childline service has 175 volunteers – but ideally needs another 80 to meet the demand for children requiring confidential guidance.

Minister for childcare Maree Todd visited the service on Monday (4 June) to mark Volunteers’ Week and learn more about how volunteers support young people who call for help with issues with bullying, online safety, family relationships and suicidal feelings.

Jayne Laidlaw, service manager for the Glasgow base said: “Our volunteers in Glasgow are incredibly proud to work for Childline and make a huge difference to young people’s lives.

“But we need more help to meet the demand from other young people who need our support, both online and over the phone. We need 255 volunteers to carry out a three and a half hour counselling slot one day each week.

“We have shifts open at all times of the day or night and most people can find a time that fits into their life. We particularly need people who can counsel children in the evening or at weekends. We would love to hear from men and women of all ages and backgrounds who want to make a difference to young people’s lives.”

Todd said: “Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the vital contribution that volunteers make to our society and I was delighted to meet call-handlers at Childline who dedicate their time to support, protect and offer counselling to so many children and young people.

“Volunteering is a rewarding experience and I hope that this week’s celebrations will inspire more people to join the thousands already donating their time and energy to important causes across the country.”

In the last year alone (2016-17), the Childline bases in Glasgow and Aberdeen conducted 49,215 counselling sessions with young people from all over the UK.

The Glasgow Childline base delivered 38,402 sessions with children across the UK about issues like mental health, bullying, neglect, abuse and family relationships.

Full training and support is provided for volunteers and more information can be found on the NSPCC website.