The University Centre students at Stockport College gained an insight into the work behind UK’s helpline dedicated to protecting children.
Lindsay Kendrick a volunteer co-ordinator for Childline/NSPCC spoke to BA (Hons) Health and Social Care and BA (Hons) Childhood Studies students about life as a ChildLine volunteer.
Left: The students pictured are James Smith, Ema Robinson, Hafsa Qureshi and Iqra Hussain.
As the Volunteer Coordinator for Manchester ChildLine, Lindsay manages the recruitment and retention of volunteer counsellors, switchboard operators and administrators for the Manchester Base and talked about the type of work that that the organisation does, volunteering opportunities within Childline/NSPCC and the process of applying to become a volunteer.
Lindsay, who’s been working for ChildLine for 6 months and volunteering her time on a weekly basis, says:
“It’s important that children can turn to a service that offers complete anonymity and puts the child first.
“Training and assessment is rigorous, but those recruited find helping children to recognise abuse is both uplifting and rewarding.”
ChildLine is the UK’s free, confidential helpline dedicated to children and young people. Whenever children need us, ChildLine is there for them – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
At ChildLine Salford Quays office there’s around 130 dedicated volunteers who answer thousands of contacts every month. At the moment there’s a high demand for volunteers as more and more children and young people try and contact ChildLine. We need at least 200 volunteers at the Manchester base alone in order to meet this demand.
Sean Creaney Lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies said:
“The talk was very well received by the students. Indeed, a number of students are now interested in applying to volunteer with Childline.”
As part of enrichment at the University Centre other recent speakers have included Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) Professor Barry Carpenter, and Scope Disability Charity.
How Safe Are Our Children?
Our new How Safe Are Our Children? 2014 report is out now. The report compiles the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists across each of the four nations in the UK.
View our 90 second animation about the report or read the full report.