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/