Volunteer with Childline
Every Childline volunteer is integral to providing Ireland’s only 24-hour free Listening service for children and young people. Our volunteers offer essential support, creating a safe space for children to share their feelings, experiences, triumphs, and challenges. Your dedication helps ensure that no child feels alone.
Hear from Our Volunteer Shauna
In a recent episode of RTÉ’s Oliver Callan Show, Childline volunteer Shauna shared her inspiring story about what it means to give her time to support children and young people.
Shauna spoke about the importance of volunteering, the difference it makes in the lives of those who reach out to Childline, and how rewarding the experience has been for her personally. Her words highlight the impact that every volunteer can have — offering a listening ear, reassurance, and hope when it’s needed most.
Listen to Shauna’s conversation below and discover why volunteering with Childline is not only vital, but also deeply fulfilling.
FAQ's
Our Childline Listening units, where trained volunteers answer calls and live chat service, are in:
- Dublin (Dun Laoghaire),
- Cork
- Drogheda
Our Digital Units, where trained volunteers answer from our live chat service, are in:
- Limerick,
- Galway
- Mayo (Castlebar).
We require all of our volunteers to commit to a minimum of four hours per week. Due to the training involved we also hope you stay for a minimum of 12 months.
The role involves providing a listening service over the phone and via our web chat function. Using active listening skills and approaching each call or text in an empathetic, non-directive and non-judgmental way, we provide every user of the service with a platform where they are heard, their feelings are validated, and their options explored.
This role involves supporting young people and parents/carers through our Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes. If you are computer literate, comfortable with written communication, empathetic and supportive and have an interest tools and techniques that encourage wellbeing, then volunteering for our Digital Support Service might be for you.
There are many excellent reasons to volunteer – it’s good for your mental health, you gain valuable training and experience, it improves your employability, and it gives you an opportunity to give back to your community in a meaningful way.
At Childline, every volunteer is exposed to amazing, life-affirming experiences through the gift of giving their time to children and young people in need of support and a listening ear. Our volunteers are able to increase their knowledge around issues young people today are facing, pick up valuable communication skills, form enduring friendships with their fellow volunteers, attend various social occasions and have the option to be a part of our internal book club and wellness group, be at our annual national volunteer recognition event, and be involved in a whole host of other occasions and opportunities that arise throughout the year.
Volunteers must attend all training sessions. Our training is delivered both in-person and online and has two strands; skills based, and topic based.
Volunteer Requirements:
- Attend weekly shifts of 4 hours carried out in-unit.
- Clear Garda vetting procedures.
- International Police Clearance (if applicable)
- Obtain a Children’s First Certificate.
- Attendance of group supervision.
- Attendance of one-to-one supervision.
Other Requirements:
- Fluent in spoken and written English.
- Good listening skills.
- The ability to maintain confidentiality.
- A desire to support children and young people.
- A person-centred approach to helping others.
If you would like to volunteer with Childline, please complete the form below or email us at [email protected]
By submitting your information you agree to be contacted by Childline by ISPCC with opportunities for volunteering.