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!

ISPCC & Javelin Dublin Win Best Radio, Craft, and Copywriting at the Irish Audio Awards

ISPCC & Javelin Dublin won Best Radio, Craft and Copywriting for their Christmas 2024 radio campaign - Once I was that Child, voiced by Saoirse Ronan, at the Irish Audio Awards

Clayton Homer, Javelin; Deirdre McNamara, ISPCC; Aoife Hofler, Javelin; & Des Kavanagh, Javlein

The ISPCC (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) and Javelin Dublin earned top honours at the 2025 Irish Audio awards, winning Best Radio, Craft, and Copywriting for their Christmas 2024 campaign, Once I Was That Child. Voiced by the acclaimed Saoirse Ronan, this emotionally charged radio ad captured the heartbreaking reality faced by vulnerable children in Ireland.

Hosted by Anton Savage, the awards took place on March 27th at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre and celebrated outstanding achievements in audio production. Out of 150 entries, 30 were shortlisted, and nine awards were presented on the night.. The win for ISPCC and Javelin Dublin stood out, reflecting the powerful combination of exceptional craft, storytelling, and the emotional depth that made this campaign so impactful.

The Once I Was That Child radio campaign was launched last November in support of ISPCC’s Childline, Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service for children. In the ad, Saoirse Ronan calls attention to the grim statistics faced by young people in Ireland. The shocking truth revealed by the campaign includes that 300 children a year contact Childline about sexual abuse, 50 children annually attempt to take their own lives while on the phone to Childline and 50 weekly contacts are related to various forms of abuse. Ronan’s voice brought these harrowing statistics to life, urging the people of Ireland to reflect on the hidden suffering of children in their communities.

ISPCC’s Once I Was That Child is more than just an award-winning radio ad; it is a call to action for the Irish public to support a vital service that helps children in crisis. With the backing of Saoirse Ronan and a message that resonated deeply, the campaign helped to shine a light on the darkness faced by too many young people in Ireland today.

Help is finally here for the parents of children suffering from anxiety

ISPCC offers free Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Programmes to support parents as well as children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties

March 18, 2025

A parent whose child is suffering from anxiety can feel utterly helpless. They are desperate to help them but simply don’t know what to do.  For a parent whose child is on the CAMHS waiting list, the waiting time can feel interminable. If you live in Cork or Kerry, one of the areas in the country with the longest waiting times, it can feel catastrophic. But there is something a parent can do to help their child – and themselves.

ISPCC provides three separate but complimentary 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.

ISPCC offers these programmes to all, it isn’t necessary to be on a CAMHS waiting list to avail of them.

The online programmes, which are all free, are based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, and are created by SilverCloud, a leading digital mental health provider.

For Susan Nicholson, who completed the Supporting an Anxious Child programme after her GP recommended that her daughter Lauren attend CAMHS, the ISPCC programmes were invaluable.

“I wanted to do something that would help our family to support Lauren. The programme encouraged to me to look at the positives, rather than focusing on the effects of her anxiety. Going through the programme, you could see what other parents were going through and you’re able to relate to their challenges. To know that other people are going through is very helpful. As a parent, you’re supposed to know all the answers, and it’s scary.

“Starting the programme was such an easy process. I liked the fact that it was anonymous, nobody knew me and I didn’t have to go to a meeting in person. It was such a personal experience – in a good way. I didn’t feel like I was just another number.

 

Supporting an Anxious Child and Supporting an Anxious Teen are programmes that will help users to understand anxiety and better support their child or young person. Space from Anxiety is aimed at 15–18-year-olds, and it is designed to empower young people who experience low to moderate anxiety. An adult can refer themselves or their child to the programmes.

The programmes includes interactive tools, activities, mood monitors and journals to encourage users to apply CBT to their own lives. Users have 12 weeks in which to complete the programme under the guidance of a volunteer, known as a supporter, and can avail of an unsupported version of the programme for one year after this time. 

“Chloe [my supporter] was very empathetic,” says Susan. “When you’re in this situation, it’s great when you know someone else cares. I felt as if she cared about Lauren.”

Dee Higgins, an ISPCC volunteer who works on its Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes, 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.” 

To find out more, go to https://www.ispcc.ie/guided-digital-programmes/

  • ISPCC delivery of these programmes is supported by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, as part of ‘Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide’

Get up, get out and get talking to help Childline by ISPCC help children and young people in Ireland

Lap and Chat for Childline

Childline by ISPCC urges the nation to get chatting with our Lap and Chat fundraising campaign

February 12, 2025

Get talking while walking and help children and young people by supporting the ‘Lap and Chat’ fundraising campaign from Childline by ISPCC.

The aim of this wellbeing initiative is to help children and teenagers open up about their worries, listen to others and reflect on their feelings with the added benefit of getting out and about and being active.

The campaign was developed in direct response to the worries of callers to Childline, Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service.  

We know from talking to children and young people that their worries range from sibling rivalry and differences in music tastes to exam anxiety, confusion about sexuality and self-harming.

This spring, Childline by ISPCC is calling on schools, clubs and creches to take part in our latest campaign by walking a lap while having a chat with a friend in the yard, school or local area. 

We listen to children and young people sharing their worries every day so we know how vital it is for them to discuss what’s on their mind with people they trust. 

Childline provides a supportive listening ear for all those worries and anything else on the minds of our callers.  “If a worry is big to any of our callers, it’s big to us at Childline,” says John Church, ISPCC CEO. 

ISPCC needs to raise up to 75% of its funding each year from donations and the charity is grateful for all support which helps ensure its services and supports are available to children and young people all day, every day.  

To find out more about the campaign, including information on how to sign up a school, club or creche, visit https://www.ispcc.ie/event/lap-and-chat-for-childline-2025/

 ISPCC will provide a virtual wellbeing talk and reflection workbooks to help those embarking on Lap and Chat to further explore their feelings and any concerns they may have.

The Lap and Chat event can be held any time in March. 

 

Wanted: Volunteers to help Childline listen to children in need

2 women at call center

New year, new challenges facing Childline as children and young people increasingly reach out for support. Childline needs volunteers to be ready to listen to any child when they need to talk.

Volunteers are the heart and soul behind Childline’s 24/7 listening service for children and young people. These men and women go out of their way time and again to offer support to those who need it, whenever they need it, no matter the reason.

The Childline listening service is now recruiting volunteers for its office in Dun Laoghaire. Its 24/7 listening service is free and confidential and can be reached online or by phone.  

Childline volunteers 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, no matter how big or small.  

Many children and young people need to talk to a supportive listener. A total of 820 children and young people contacted Ireland’s only 24-hour listening service during Christmas*, representing a 12% increase in connections made in 2024 compared with Christmas 2023.  

Childline needs more volunteers to be ready to listen to these children and young people.

Volunteers receive full training in advance of answering their first contact and ongoing support and upskilling thereafter. The first training session of 2025 starts in February. 

 An excellent team spirit and sense of support prevails at Childline units throughout the country where volunteers gather for their four-hour weekly shift. 

Childline volunteer Dee says that she never expected to get so much back from volunteering in her own life. “I have learned so many new skills and made friends from all walks of life. We are all united with a common purpose: to make sure every child has somewhere they can turn.”

Another volunteer Liz says that although she was initially nervous at the thought of becoming a volunteer with Childline, she is delighted that she did it. “People always think that you’re dealing with the most neglected children of society but this is not necessarily the truth, so many children just need to talk. It tugs at my heartstrings that so many children need Childline.”

If you would like more information on becoming a Childline volunteer at our unit in Dun Laoghaire and helping the service to listen to children and young people, please go to https://www.ispcc.ie/volunteer-with-childline/

ISPCC reveals that for many children in Ireland, Christmas was a day of trauma and despair with over 820 children reaching out to Childline over the Christmas period*

December 26th will be one of busiest days of the year for Childline with data showing a 12% increase in contacts made to Ireland’s only 24-hour listening service for children and young people

 Dublin, December 26th, 2024 – Childline, today (St Stephen’s Day 2024), reveals that 820 children and young people contacted Ireland’s only 24-hour listening service during Christmas*, representing a 12% increase in connections made this year compared with Christmas 2023.  The heartbreaking data complied over a three-day Christmas period (December 23rd, 24th and 25th) shows that:

For many children, Christmas is not a time of joy but one of fear and misery as they contact Childline to talk about: suicide, abuse, neglect, bereavement and loneliness

There has been a noticeable trend over the last year whereby those children engaging with Childline are at extremely high risk of harm. Sadly, such stark revelations come as no surprise to the dedicated team of staff and volunteers at ISPCC.   

Elizabeth Donlon Fox, National Childline Listening Co-ordinator said: “Our data reveals that today, December 26th, will be one of the busiest days of the year for our team of staff and volunteers at Childline, and we expect that over 250 children and young people will reach out to us today because of something that has happened to them over Christmas.”

John Church, CEO, ISPCC said: “For too many children and young people, Christmas simply doesn’t happen. 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. We depend on donations for up to 90% of the funding which keeps us listening 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. Without this help, we would not be able to be here for every child who needs us.”

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

  •      * 50 children a year are in the process of trying to take their own life while on the phone to the Childline team    
  •      * Over 200 actively suicidal children have contacted Childline during the last year
  •      * The Childline team has had 1,300 suicide-related contacts over the past 12 months

Too many children and young people 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. To help Childline help those children whose Christmas dreams have turned to nightmares, go to ispcc.ie  

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

ENDS

The moonlighting DJ who swapped talking for listening

Meet Marty Guilfoyle. He’s a man with a secret. A DJ and radio presenter by night, he does something that you really wouldn’t expect when the sun comes up – he volunteers for Childline, Ireland’s only 24/7 listening service.

Thirtysomething Marty, who works for Spin FM, doesn’t match the usual profile of a charity volunteer, but he’s proof that anyone can find the time to help those who need it.

When he first thought about volunteering, those closest to Marty queried if he really had the time to fit a four-hour weekly shift into his hectic schedule. However, he says that supervisors at Childline made it easy for him to chose a time he could commit to every week.

He has never looked back. “I gain a sense of purpose. I could be exhausted but five minutes into my shift, I’m perked up and ready to go.”

Marty loves talking to the children and young people who ring the helpline. “When you hear that they’re getting less anxious and they’re leaving a call with a sense of empowerment, you can’t beat that feeling,” he says.

He’s quick to point out that the calls aren’t all “doom and gloom, sometimes someone just wants to tell you that they played a football match and scored a goal”.

Childline volunteers are the heart and soul behind Childline’s 24/7 listening service for children and young people. These men and women go out of their way time and again to offer support to those who need it, whenever they need it, no matter the reason.

Marty bucks the trend in another way – he lives in south county Dublin, the area where people are least likely to volunteer according to the CSO.

The Childline listening service is now recruiting volunteers for its units in Dun Laoghaire, Cork and Drogheda. Its 24/7 listening service is free and confidential and can be reached online or by phone.  

Childline volunteers 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, no matter how big or small.  

Volunteers receive full training in advance of answering their first contact and ongoing support and upskilling thereafter. 

Childline Unit Manager Mary 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.”

Another volunteer Liz says that although she was initially nervous at the thought of becoming a volunteer with Childline, she is delighted that she did it. “People always think that you’re dealing with the most neglected children of society but this is not necessarily the truth, so many children just need to talk. It tugs at my heartstrings that so many children need Childline.”

If you would like more information on becoming a Childline volunteer at one of our units in Drogheda, Cork or Dun Laoghaire and helping the service to listen to children and young people, please contact https://www.ispcc.ie/volunteer-with-childline/

To hear more from Marty Guilfoyle, go to https://youtu.be/foNcQ79RIBo?si=4fxq0_rybDxpJqwR

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact Rowena Walsh, ISPCC Media and Communications Coordinator Tel: 087 2997872 

Email: [email protected]

ISPCC volunteer Marty Guilfoyle and ISPCC spokespeople are available for interview

About ISPCC

ISPCC is a charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and young people. The charity provides a suite of Childline services and supports for children and young people up to and including those aged 18 years old.  Childline’s 24-hour support line can be contacted for FREE, 365 days a year 24/7.  Children can chat online at childline.ie or call 1800 66 66 66.  

ISPCC provide services, supports and programmes for parents/carers and those working or volunteering in child and youth settings e.g., schools, clubs, crèches etc.