#childline

Yes, they are the national child protection charity. They do vital work, I donate to them monthly and have done for many years. 

Right now it’s extremely urgent that they get all the support and donations they can get. They run Childline, the child support hotline (phone, text, email support) and there has been a huge spike in usage of the service since the coronavirus started and schools closed. 

As well as a spike of anxiety and worry in kids due to the virus there is the fact that countless children are now stuck in their homes in abusive situations without an escape, or do not have access to the support/food they usually receive at school. The website/email service has seen the biggest spike as many kids are too scared to phone Childline in case they are overheard in the home during lockdown. It’s a crisis situation in so many ways. 

I didn’t know Niall had been added to the list of musicians doing the Instagram home concerts, that is amazing. I watched Hozier’s last week and other Irish artists have been performing most nights. 

April 6th, 2020:

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The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) is an Ireland based charity that works to protect, support, and empower children. One of the major services that the charity provides is a listening service, a childline. Children from all over Ireland can call or text for free 24/7 and 365 days of the year to talk with a trained volunteer. In addition, children can contact the charity online via a web-chat. The cost of the texts and the phone calls is absorbed by Vodafone through a partnership with the charity. It is estimated that ISPCC receives an average of 310,000 calls/texts/chats per year!

Oh thank you! I’m really glad they helped. You’re very right, it is a very important service for people to be aware of.