Why ISPCC is giving a huge thank you to Ohk Energy and Caelan Doris

Childline by ISPCC says a huge thank you to Ohk Energy and their ambassador, rugby star Caelan Doris, who teamed up to support the vital work carried out by the charity with their phenomenal Power a Brighter Future initiative.

In just one month the combined efforts of Ohk Energy and Childline Champion Caelan Doris raised over €16,000 which will go directly to help the children and young people who need ISPCC’s vital services.

As part of the campaign, from August 6, 2024, to September 6, 20,24 €50 from every Ohk Energy sale of solar PV systems and air-to-water heat pumps was donated to Childline. Ohk Energy is a new group brand comprised of leading renewable energy providers NRG Panel and JFW Renewables.

John Church, CEO of ISPCC, said: “We are so grateful for the generous support from the team at Ohk Energy and our Childline Champion Caelan Doris. They are really helping us to offer a lifeline to all the children and young people who need us. The reality is that we could not continue to carry out the work we do if it wasn’t for these wonderful and essential collaborations with our partners. We truly appreciate the commitment from Ohk Energy and Caelan Doris to helping us make a real difference in the lives of those who need us.”

 

ISPCC needs to raise over 70% of its funding through donations each year to ensure we can be there to support children and young people 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. We rely on the generosity of the public and are grateful for all support. We encourage children to reach out for any reason.

A new national hub for ISPCC as “Team Childline” logs over one million hours dedicated to listening to children and young people 24/7

ISPCC CEO John Church with Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman

For 35 years, Childline has been part of the fabric of Irish society and as we celebrate the opening of our new national hub in Dun Laoghaire with Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, we remain as dedicated as ever to our mission of supporting children and young people.  

ISPCC staff and volunteers are a united team, determined that there will always be someone to listen if a child or young person needs to talk.  

John Church, CEO ISPCC said: “Our new national hub is a tangible demonstration of our continuing commitment to the needs of children and young people and reflects our desire to provide the best possible working environment for the teams delivering Childline’s full suite of services.  The contemporary space enables us to continue to pursue and deliver a digital-first strategy, ensuring that we are there for every child or young person in Ireland. Anytime and for any reason.” 

“The ISPCC has played an important role in the support and protection of children and young people in Ireland over many years. It has created an anonymous and non-judgemental space for children and young people to be heard and to be listened to, and I hope ISPCC staff and volunteers enjoy many productive years in their new national hub,” said Minister O’Gorman. 

Staff and volunteers are at the very heart of Childline. They give back in the most generous spirit. One million hours is a phenomenal amount of time, equating to 114 years or 41,666 days. And yet that is the amount of time that ISPCC’s amazing volunteers have dedicated to Childline’s 24/7 listening service.  

Val Beegan, a volunteer who has been involved with Childline for over 25 years, says the most crucial issue over the last quarter century is the decline of mental health in children and young people.  

Mental health is one of the most common reasons children and young people contact helplines, including Childline, according to the recently published Voices of Children & Young People Around the World global child helpline data report.  

In just five days’ time (November 20), it is World Children’s Day, a day to support children’s rights. By then, Childline will have had over 85,000 connections with children and young people since the start of 2023.  

“There has never been a more important time than now to prioritise the mental health of young people, as families face financial uncertainty, while young people tackle new levels of social media pressure and are exposed to the reality of wars and a global pandemic at a very early age,” said John Church. Childline can be reached online at Childline.ie or by calling 1800 66 66 66. 

Some young people may feel that their issue is not important enough to seek support. But we believe everything in life is worth talking about.