ISPCC offers FREE online mindfulness workshops for children and teens

Join us online on January 16th to explore how mindfulness can make a positive difference to children and young people. ISPCC is offering three free workshops for primary and post primary school students. 

Each of the three sessions are interactive, directed at the relevant developmental stage of the attendees and designed to be engaging and playful in nature. They last 30-40 minutes and will be presented by Victoria Howson who is ISPCC’s Shield Anti-Bullying Programme’s Community Engagement Manager as well as a trainee Educational Psychologist with the HSE.

The first workshop at 9.30am is dedicated to exploring how mindfulness can help teens navigate academic pressure, social dynamics and emotional challenges. Through guided practice, relatable examples and reflective discussions, students will discover concrete strategies for focus, calm and self-awareness that they can seamlessly incorporate into their daily lives. 

The second session at 11am is aimed at pupils in junior infants, senior infants, first and second classes and it will introduce them to mindfulness through simple stories, movement and sensory exploration. They will learn age-appropriate techniques to help deal with overwhelming feelings.  

The third workshop at 11.55am is aimed at those in third to sixth classes and through interactive activities, guided breathing and reflective exercises, attendees learn how mindfulness can support focus, emotional balance and everyday wellbeing.  They will gain concrete strategies that are applicable both at school and at home. 

The aim of these sessions is to introduce children and teens to key tools and thought process that they can utilise to reduce anxiety, navigate emotional challenges and deal with pressure. It is also to encourage participants to make the best of every day they have and to understand that it’s okay to have feelings, even uncomfortable ones, they don’t have to be ignored. 

Teachers will need to provide a screen and speakers for the workshops.  

To learn more about the workshops and to register, go to ISPCC Webinars – ISPCC

Behind the closed doors of homes across Ireland, many children suffered in silence this Christmas* – but Childline was there for them

Behind the closed doors of homes across Ireland, many children suffered in silence this Christmas – but Childline was there for them

“It’s such a hard time of year to feel so alone, I haven’t spoken to anyone today, I wish things were different, like it is in the movies, but it’s not. It was brilliant to be able to call Childline, I knew that you would be here for me and it does help a little.”  Emma*, 14. 

Today (December 26th) is set to be one of busiest days of the year for Childline with the team expecting that more than 300 contacts will be made to Ireland’s only 24-hour listening service for children and young people  

Dublin, December 26th, 2025 – Childline reveals that today (St Stephen’s Day, 2025) will be the busiest day of the year for Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service as children come to terms with what they have experienced over the Christmas* period.  The dedicated Childline team is expecting that more than 300 contacts will be made from children and young people across Ireland. 

Heartbreaking data also reveals that over a three-day Christmas period (December 23rd, 24th and 25th) whilst many of us were enjoying gifts, treats, twinkly lights and Santa, Childline received 615 contacts from children who turned to the team because Christmas for them was not a time of joy but one of neglect and misery. Shockingly, seven young people turned to us with suicidal thoughts.

Bullying, abuse, neglect, mental health, substance misuse, strained family relationships and grief are just some of the many reasons children turn to Childline – reasons that sadly are even more pronounced during what is meant to be a magical time of the year.

Additional statistics from Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service for children and young people reveal:   

  •                The Childline team spends the equivalent of 146 full days a year talking to children and young people in immediate crisis
  •                35 children and young people a year are in the process of trying to take their own life whilst in contact with the Childline team
  •                Childline receives over 2,300 contacts a year in relation to sexual, physical and emotional abuse
  •                300 children a year contact Childline about sexual abuse involving rape and being forced to watch and/or perform sexual acts    

Over the last five years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of children engaging with Childline who are at high risk of harm. Sadly, such stark revelations come as no surprise to the dedicated team of staff and volunteers at ISPCC.   

The Childline team know they are an essential support for so many neglected children, and Childline is open 24/7 to any child for any reason at Christmas, as it is throughout the year. 

“Christmas is supposed to be the one day when families spend time together in peace and harmony,” said volunteer Joe Keane. “However, for children who call Childline at Christmas, the holiday can be one of the loneliest and most difficult times of the year. As a volunteer, being there on Christmas Day means I can make sure they feel listened to and heard.”

John Church, CEO, ISPCC said: “For too many children and young people, Christmas simply doesn’t happen. Too many don’t have the Christmas that they dream of and deserve. Instead, a day that should be full of joy is nothing special and sometimes a lot worse. They turn to Childline for support, and our amazing staff and volunteers are there for them 24/7 over Christmas, as they are throughout the year. Without help from public donations, we would simply not be able to be here for every child who needs us.” 

To help Childline continue to be there for children go to ispcc.ie   

*Christmas statistics refer to December 23, December 24 and December 25 

* Contacts refers to all contacts (chats/phones) that dial 1800 66 66 66/connect to LiveChat  

ISPCC honoured to announce million-euro funding for project to combat child grooming

The GroSafe team, Fiona Jennings, ISPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs,  is pictured on the left

ISPCC is honoured to announce that GroSafe, the technology-enabled safeguarding platform designed to combat child grooming through education, support and reporting, has received the Prize Award from Research Ireland’s National Challenge Fund in the OurTech pillar.

This acknowledgement of potential of GroSafe to have an incredible impact on the lives of so many children and young is extremely welcome and will enable the GroSafe team to make a true societal impact.

By empowering children and caregivers through this platform, the GroSafe team aims to build societal resistance, reduce exploitation and foster a culture of safe and trusted disclosure. The project is led by TU Dublin’s Dr Christina Thorpe and Dr Matt Bowden and ISPCC’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Fiona Jennings, acts as Societal Impact Champion.

The GroSafe project is one of six research teams across four challenge programmes under the National Challenge Fund, to receive part of €8 million in prize phase funding. Funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Fund calls on researchers to identify problems related to Ireland’s Digital Transformation and work directly with those most affected to solve them.

Fiona Jennings, ISPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said the project is specially focused on “how children and young people are groomed into criminality or for sexual exploitation purposes.“We are extremely grateful that the possibilities offered by GroSafe have been acknowledged by the Prize Award from Research Ireland’s National Challenge Fund.

“The GroSafe team has gone to great lengths to ensure that the voices of stakeholders were heard and that their needs and requirements were understood. In particular, I believe that the engagement with children is the perfect example of true participation in action.

“The ISPCC wants to particularly acknowledge the steadfast vision, dedication and determination of the leadership provided by Dr Christina Thorpe and Dr Matt Bowden. They have ensured that the GroSafe potential for real societal change will be realised.

“As Societal Impact Champion, I am increasingly convinced that the only way to meaningfully tackle child grooming is by working together cohesively and respectively. I also want to acknowledge the incredible input of Research Ireland. I have been hugely impressed by the design of the National Challenge Fund competition and the continuing support and mentoring offered by members of Research Ireland throughout the process.”

ISPCC attends the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence

It was an honour to be invited to attend the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence and discuss the impact of AI on children and young people. ISPCC’s purpose is to protect childhood, and we believe that it is crucial to ensure that AI technologies are designed safely and ethically, with a child-rights approach.

The meeting of Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence was a wonderful opportunity to share the insights of our colleagues in ISPCC who have direct daily engagement with children.

While there are legitimate – and grave – concerns about the future development of AI, it can also be used as force for good. 

ISPCC CEO John Church emphasised that the voice of the child is essential when formulating policy in this area, while Head of Policy and Public Affairs Fiona Jennings stressed ISPCC’s involvement in research projects underpinned by AI technologies – GroSafe and NLight – as well as the Children’s Online Redress Sandbox project which will establish a first-of-its-kind mechanism to advance child online safety through collaboration across sectors, borders and generations utilising a regulatory sandbox methodology.

GroSafe is funded by Research Ireland and aims to develop a technology-enabled solution to build societal resilience against child grooming.

NLight, funded by Safe Online, is a deployable text analysis tool that allows for better data and sentiment analysis of our Childline webchat service.

 She also discussed the Children’s Online Redress Sandbox project which will establish a first-of-its-kind mechanism to advance child online safety through collaboration across sectors, borders and generations.

At ISPCC, we believe that children and young people need to be educated on how to use AI technologies responsibly and productively. Legislators must champion a robust regulatory system that supports safe and ethical design of AI technologies. A cross-government coordinated approach with a national policy focus is needed, situated in the Department of An Taoiseach. The proposed AI office and AI observatory could offer this opportunity.

Every child has the right to lead a better, happier, safer childhood. It is our hope that working with our partners in the Irish Safer Internet Centre and on novel solution-focused projects, we can ensure that the rights of children and young people are protected as AI technologies evolve.

The other organisations represented at the meeting included the Ombudsman Youth Advisory Panel, National Youth Council, Children’s Rights Alliance, National Parents Council, BeLong To, CyberSafeKids, Irish Traveller Movement, spunout and Webwise.

Could you help Childline listen to children in Drogheda?

volunteers outreach

Shauna McDaniel’s reason for volunteering with Childline is simple: She would have loved to have called Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service when she was young.

“I could have really benefited from having an adult to talk to, to help me feel less alone, to feel that I was worthy of being part of a conversation, to reassure me that my life is valid and how I feel is valid.”

Shauna grew up in single-parent household in rural Ireland. Her mother was very loving but exhausted trying to care for three children on her own.

Shauna has been volunteering with Childline since February 2024 and the 39-year-old says that she loves hearing the stories of the children who call. “It’s not always tragic conversations. I get so much joy from a child saying that they feel better at the end of our conversation.”

The Childline listening service is now recruiting volunteers for its office in Drogheda, which is dedicated to helping Ireland’s children.

For Sarah Edwards, who has been in the Drogheda office for the last three years, volunteering with Childline has changed her life in ways she could never have envisioned. Her aim when she started volunteering “was to empower at least one child on my shift, but the reason why I stay is because of the other volunteers. “I’ve made friends for life, we really support each other.”

She says that knowing you have helped a child makes your week.  “Depending on the child’s age, I put my seven-year-old or my 16-year-old hat on. I imagine myself being that age and in that situation.

After working for 24 years in the drinks industry, Sarah is planning to do a psychology degree, a development she credits to her time volunteering with Childline.

The service provided by ISPCC is always available to any child and young person across Ireland who would like to talk about any topic on their mind.  

Childline’s 24/7 listening service is free and confidential and can be reached online or by phone.  

Volunteers with the service come from all walks of life and are united by one common purpose: to help ensure no child or young person in Ireland has to face their challenges alone.  

An excellent team spirit and sense of support prevails at Childline units throughout the country. Volunteers receive full training in advance of answering their first contact and ongoing support and upskilling thereafter. The training will take place in September.

“You’re never on your own,” says Sarah. “Everyone on your shift is in the room with you.”

Childline regional supervisor Mary Nolan Durkan says: “Childline volunteers play a vital role in helping to ensure there is always someone there to listen, support and empower children and young people in Ireland when they seek a listening ear. The Childline training course is a comprehensive course which equips volunteers with the skills to deliver a quality service to children.”

“I’ll never leave Childline,” says Sarah, “no matter what I do going forward, I’ll always be a volunteer. I absolutely love it.

  • If you would like more information on becoming a Childline volunteer at our unit in Drogheda and helping the service to listen to children and young people, please go to https://www.ispcc.ie/volunteer-with-childline/
  • If you don’t have the time, but still want to make a difference, you can donate at ispcc.ie

Make a splash for Childline this September

September Sea Swim 2024

Finding Nemo’s Dory was very clear: “Just keep swimming”. It’s advice that heptathlete Lara O’Byrne would certainly agree with.

Lara, a passionate sea swimmer, was one of the first people to sign up to this year’s September Sea Swims. Now she’s hoping that people throughout the country will join her and make a splash for Childline.

Childline’s September Sea Swims are open to everyone. You don’t actually have to live by the coast to participate in this beneficial endeavour for body and soul: any open water location will do for your swims, dips or paddles.

Childline will also be hosting pop-up swim events throughout September if you’d like to take the plunge with others.

September Sea Swims offer a fantastic opportunity to nurture your mental and physical health while supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. All funds raised will do directly to Childline, Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service, to ensure that there is always someone to listen when a child or young person needs to talk.

For Lara who founded the Original Lobster wetsuit company, signing up for September Sea Swims has physical, mental and emotions benefits. “Sea swimming is a way to connect not only with nature, but with yourself,” she says.

“When you’re in the water, all of the outside problems don’t seem so bad. It’s my favourite way to decompress and be in the moment. It also brings people together and creates a sense of community. That’s why I’ve decided to take part in this challenge while also raising money for a fantastic charity.”

Psychologist and author Allison Keating has also signed up for September Sea Swims. She firmly believes that the refreshing reset offered sea swimming has multiple benefits for body and soul.

“Sea swimming is an incredibly immersive and totally free experience that reconnects you with your body, while calming and reinvigorating your mind. It gets you out of your head and back into your body, with stress-relieving benefits that last long after your dip.”

It’s very straightforward to join Lara and Allison in September Sea Swims for Childline.

Simply sign up to do 10 swims whenever you want throughout the month. You can do it as a solo challenge or with a group of friends.

Each participant should register individually at https://septemberseaswim.com/ to receive their fundraising pack and be eligible for a prize draw to win an Original Lobster wetsuit. They will also receive a fundraising pack.

So go on, dive in and soak up the benefits of swimming for Childline.

ISPCC announces global project to prevent online child sexual exploitation and abuse

cyberbullying

The project, spearheaded by Greek non-profit child welfare organisation The Smile of the Child, will be co-created by children and young people to ensure their voices are heard

ISPCC is honoured to announce its participation in a worldwide project designed to transform how we prevent and respond to online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Safe Online, a global fund dedicated to eradicating online child sexual exploitation and abuse, is funding the project called “Sandboxing and Standardizing Child Online Redress”.

The COR Sandbox project will establish a first-of-its-kind mechanism to advance child online safety through collaboration across sectors, borders and generations.

The project is led by The Smile of the Child, Greece’s premier child welfare organisation and

ISPCC is a partner alongside The Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, Child Helpline International and the Centre for Digital Policy at University College Dublin.

Sandboxes bring together industry, regulators and customers in a safe space to test innovative products and services without incurring regulatory sanctions and they are mainly used in the finance sector to test new services. The EU is increasingly encouraging the use of sandboxes in the field of high technology and artificial intelligence.

Through the participation of youth, platforms, regulators and online safety experts, this first regulatory sandbox for child digital wellbeing will provide for consistent, systemic care and redress for children from online harm, based on their rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Getting reporting and redress right means that we can keep track of harms and be able to identify systemic risk. Co-designing the reporting and redress process with young people as equitable participants can help us understand what they expect from the reporting process and what remedies are fair for them putting Article 12 of the UNCRC into action.

The project also benefits from the guidance of renowned digital safety experts, including Project Lead and Scientific Coordinator Ioanna Noula, PhD, an international expert on tech policy and children’s rights; pioneering online safety and youth rights advocate Anne Collier; youth rights and participation expert Amanda Third, PhD, of the Young and Resilient Research Centre; international innovation management consultant Nicky Hickman; IT innovation and startup founder Jez Goldstone; and leading child online wellbeing scholar Tijana Milosevic, PhD.

ISPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs Fiona Jennings said: “This project is a wonderful example of what we can achieve when we collaborate and listen to children and young people. Having robust online reporting mechanisms in place is a key policy objective for ISPCC and this project will go a long way towards making the online world safer for children and young people to participate in.”

Project lead Ioanna Noula said: “ISPCC’s contribution to a project, which seeks to build coherence around the issue of online redress, will be a catalyst for real and substantial change in the area of online reporting. Helplines play a key role in flagging illegal and/or harmful content. As the experts in listening and responding to children, ISPCC can provide insight from an Irish context to help spearheading the implementation of the Digital Services Act and the wellbeing of children online.”

ISPCC honoured at the Media Awards 2025

ISPCC and leading independent full service advertising agency Javelin received the top accolade for the Best Collaboration Agency & Media Owner (Niche) at this year’s Media Awards for its national radio campaign ‘Once I was that Child’

The radio campaign, which was voiced by Saoirse Ronan, aimed to reveal the dark truths behind childhood in Ireland. ‘Once I was that Child’ was brought to full, terrible, haunting life by the power of Saoirse’s performance. The Blitz and Outrun actress urged the listener to think of and donate to the ISPCC, which needs public support to continue its essential work helping so many traumatised children and young people.       

The Media Awards, which took place in the Mansion House, on May 8, celebrate the teams behind the ideas, strategic and creative thinking and implementation which generate impact and business success. The categories reflect the fast-moving media landscape and recognise the talent who are driving the change.

ISPCC and Javelin also received a Silver award for ‘Once I was that Child’ in the Media Campaign Niche, a category limited to campaigns with a media budget of under €50,000.

Deirdre McNamara, Director, Marketing and Communications, ISPCC, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this recognition. The awards are a testament to the passion, creativity and true collaborative spirit of our combined teams. Working with the Javelin team, we created a very important campaign. ‘Once I was that child’ is a reminder to us all that once innocence is stolen childhood is lost forever.”

ISPCC says a huge thank you to our fabulous volunteers

This National Volunteering Week (May 19-25, 2025), ISPCC wants   to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who are always available to listen to children and young people 

We couldn’t provide the services and support we do without our selfless volunteers who go out of their way time and again to offer support to those who need it, whenever they need it, no matter the reason.

“Our dedicated volunteers and teams around the country listen and support children and young people, no matter what is on their mind or what they may be going through,” says Caroline O’Sullivan, ISPCC Director of Services. “Childline is there, unconditionally, for them. Our online chat service is ideal for children who may feel more comfortable seeking support by typing and messaging about what is going on for them.”

These conversations address serious challenges, with self-harm a big issue, as well as anxiety, stress over exams and family disagreements also being regularly discussed. For teens, body image and stress over social media is causing a lot of anxiety.

Ian Kinsella, a recent volunteer in ISPCC’s Dublin unit, says that children and young people need to be heard and need to be given their space without direction and judgment because they get that in so many other places. He says that “it is incredibly rewarding to see that you have made a difference in a child’s life, it’s priceless”.

As well as the 24/7 listening service, ISPCC also offers free Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Programmes, two of which are available to parents/carers of either anxious children or teens while the third is aimed at teenagers experiencing low to moderate levels of anxiety. Users complete the programme under the guidance of a volunteer.

ISPCC volunteer Dee Higgins believes that the programmes are empowering for users of all ages. “It gives parents and young people a chance to deal with their anxieties before it becomes a huge issue,” she said, adding that “if parents can understand what their child is going through, that’s a huge step.”

The Childline 24/7 listening service is anonymous, a fact that Ian thinks really helps children and young people to express what’s on their mind to a supportive listener.

“So many people feel that they can’t talk to others about what’s going on in their lives,” says Val Beegan, a volunteer with Childline’s Limerick unit. Val knows all about what’s on the minds of children and young people as she’s been volunteering with Childline for over 25 years.

Val has been involved in every type of conversation from children devastated to be thrown out of their friends’ what’s app group to young people wanting to stop self-harming but unable to do so.

She is one of two volunteers in ISPCC’s Limerick office working on both Childline’s 24/7 listening service and its online digital mental health programmes. Val believes that levels of anxiety among children and young people have really exacerbated over the years. “It is so good to hear young people talking about it on the phone and opening up how it affects them.”

Val also sees the other side of the story, how parents can feel so helpless trying to help their children who are suffering from anxiety and is grateful to be involved in the Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Programmes because she feels that they can make such a difference to children, young people and their parents.

They all need to be heard, says Val, and talking can make a real difference.

Breakfast is Better Together! Host your very own Childline Breakfast this May and help Childline be there 24/7 for every child who needs us

Childline Breakfast 2025 Event

Wouldn’t it be nice to carve out a little time at the start of day to have a chat over your tea and toast?

This May, Childline by ISPCC is calling on families, creches, schools, clubs and workplaces throughout the country to take time for breakfast – to sit, listen and enjoy each other’s company while supporting Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service for children and teenagers nationwide. 

Childline has seen a dramatic rise in demand for all its services. Children reach out to talk to Childline staff and volunteers about family relationships, mental and emotional health and sexual abuse. 

Please join us by hosting your own breakfast so we can continue to be there for every child who needs us.

The Childline Breakfast initiative is once again proudly supported by McCambridge Bread. Those who sign up to host a breakfast will receive an ISPCC Breakfast Pack, including a fresh delivery of McCambridge Bread*.

You will also receive your own digital pack that includes conversation starter cards designed by our in-house therapeutic experts at Childline that will help you to encourage check-ins with the children and young people in your life.

Deirdre McNamara, Director, Marketing and Communications, ISPCC, says “We are delighted to be bringing Childline Breakfast back for 2025! Taking time out to talk and listen to family and friends is hugely beneficial for all. At Childline, we know how important it is that people feel heard, which is why we’re calling for everyone to come on board this year and host their own breakfast and help raise funds for Childline. Small donation can make a big difference for children who need someone to listen.”

You can support us here www.ispcc.ie

If you’re interested in learning more about ISPCC’s Breakfast initiative, contact: [email protected] or go to https://www.ispcc.ie/event/childline-breakfast-2025/

Go on, choose a day this May and enjoy a breakfast together for Childline!

 

* If you’re part of a school, club, crèche, or business, you will receive a special delivery of fresh McCambridge bread. We will be in touch after you register to discuss the date and estimated number of people participating – we will ensure there is enough for everyone!