Children's lifeline faces cuts

Children ringing ChildLine in the early hours of the morning after being abused or running away from desperate situations at home may soon find that the lines are closed.

Heavy demands on the public's compassion this year have contributed to an acute shortage of funds to run the 24-hour service ChildLine has provided for almost 20 years. The organisation is now facing tough decisions about where to make cuts, unless the public respond generously to an emergency appeal launched today.

In order to keep the daytime and evening services running ChildLine may have to shut its crucial night service which relies on paid staff rather than volunteers. The night service counsels fewer children but they are often in desperate need.

ChildLine Founder and Chair Esther Rantzen said: "Many of the desperate children we speak to overnight are facing real emergencies and don't know where else to turn for help.

"In the loneliest hours of the night we have called ambulances for children who have tried to commit suicide, found shelter for children thrown out of their homes and called the police or social service for children who can no longer live with the abuse they've endured.

"The emergency appeal we are launching today is the only way to ensure that our lines are always open whenever a child needs us. Donate now by calling 0800 876 6000 or visiting our website at http://www.childline.org.uk.."

In 2003-2004 ChildLine ensured that 1859 children got help from emergency or social services when they needed it most. One in four (420) of these children were referred for help between 9.30pm and 7.30am. The most common reasons for these referrals were running away/homelessness (40%), serious family tensions (22%) and physical abuse (14%).

ChildLine is the UK's free, 24-hour helpline for children in danger or distress. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people. The number for children to call is 0800 1111. Lack of funds means that lines can be busy. Visit ChildLine's website at: www.childline.org.uk.

In 2003-4 ChildLine provided help to 8,920 callers between the hours of 9.30pm-7.30am when our lines are staffed by paid counsellors rather than volunteers.

In the early hours of the morning the number of children given in-depth counselling each hour often drops to single figures. However, one in six of these children are facing such severe difficulties or distress that they are referred to the emergency and/or social services.

During the night, 65% of the children ChildLine counselled were aged 12-15 but some were as young as seven years old.