Letter to Editor – Childline celebrates its 35th birthday

Dear Editor,

Saturday 30^th October marks Childline’s 35^th Birthday. I’ve been a Childline volunteer counsellor since the launch in 1986 and despite the many changes in the world, the need for Childline remains as strong as ever.

On that first shift in October 1986, we had 50,000 attempted calls which jammed the lines completely. I knew from that point that I’d continue volunteering for Childline. I remember one staff member asking if I’d carry on until things ‘calmed down’. As I write this in 2021 they haven’t, and I don’t think they ever will. Children will always need a service like Childline –  where they can be heard, listened to and supported.

I’ve seen the service grow, move online and, most recently, adapt to be here during the pandemic. From introducing our online service in 2009 so we could meet children where they are, to recently launching our Report Remove tool which helps young people to remove nude images or videos from the internet, Childline continues to adapt.

Nobody knows what the next 35 years will bring. But we do know that no matter how strong and adaptable children are, no child should ever feel like they must cope alone. We continue to live in very uncertain times and this is challenging, but you can play a vital role in helping to protect children in the future.  Please think about leaving a legacy with a gift in your Will. Thanks to the kindness of our legacy supporters, we’ve been able to ensure that whatever’s going on in the world, whatever we’re facing, the NSPCC and Childline is here for children. Search ‘NSPCC Guardians’ for more info.

Colin Butler

Childline’s longest serving volunteer counsellor

Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.