AN URGENT appeal is being made for volunteers to join the NSPCC Cymru/Wales’ Childline service, based in Prestatyn.

The charity’s counselling service is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for children and young people in need of support and advice.

Debs Davis, Childline services manager, said: “Our Childline service can be life-changing for the children who contact us. It gives them a chance to speak out safely about whatever might be happening to them or worrying them.

“We’re appealing for more volunteer counsellors who are ready to be that listening and non-judgmental ear for a child so that we’re able to help even more young people with nowhere else to turn.”

Rhyl Journal:

Childline base - Prestatyn

A child contacts Childline every 25 seconds. At the moment the service is unable to respond to one in three children who get in contact.

Debs added: “We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in volunteering their time with Childline, helping to give young people a voice when no-one else is listening.

“Common concerns include mental health, sexual abuse, exam stress, and bullying, but the reality is when the phone rings or the 1-2-1 kicks off you need to be ready to talk to a young person about anything. That is one of the things that makes volunteering so challenging but also so rewarding.”

Simon Shorrock joined the team as a switchboard volunteer last year and is now training to be a Childline counsellor.

He said: “I’ve always been interested in helping children and young people and volunteering with Childline in Prestatyn has made that possible.

“Not only has it enhanced my counselling and listening skills, I get so much from it on a personal level that it is something I look forward to doing every week.”

Volunteer roles at Childline Prestatyn include counsellors and switchboard volunteers and the base is in need of both to enable them to help more young people.

Successful applicants are asked to give a minimum of either two hours a week as a switchboard volunteer or 4.25 hours per week as a counsellor, and receive a comprehensive training package, which includes online and face-to-face training.

Anyone interested in attending a volunteer information meeting to find out more about what the role entails and how to apply can contact volunteer co-ordinator Sally King-Sheard on 01745 772101 or email Sally.King-Sheard@NSPCC.org.uk

Anyone with any concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk for free 24/7, 365 days a year.