ChildLine is a UK-based children's helpline. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 460 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1028 × 1340 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a logo of an organization, item, or event, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 460 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1028 × 1340 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a logo of an organization, item, or event, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... A helpline was originally a telephone service which offers help to those that call. ...

In 1986 Esther Rantzen, presenter of That's Life!, a popular ‘watchdog’ type TV show, put on a programme about sexual abuse. The BBC set up a helpline that any viewer affected by the programme could call. It was almost swamped by callers, most of them adult women and many said they had been abused as children and never told anyone before. They said their lives had been very damaged by the abuse and they still felt affected by events that happened years ago. Esther went on to screen Childwatch and the helpline was overwhelmed by young callers wanting to talk about their experiences of sexual abuse. It was evident sexual abuse was much more prevalent than previously suspected and, contrary to popular belief, it was more often committed by an adult known to the child. Young people who spoke out about being abused risked disbelief; many felt too confused, frightened or ashamed to complain and did not know who they might turn to for help. Esther decided a free helpline should be available to children and young people so they would have someone to turn to for help, comfort and protection if ever they felt unhappy or unsafe. Esther Louise Rantzen CBE (born June 22, 1940), is a British journalist and television presenter who is best known for her long stint in Thats Life! and her activities as founder of the charity ChildLine. ... Thats Life! was a television magazine-style series on BBC between 1973 and 1994, presented by Esther Rantzen throughout the entire run, with various changes of co-presenters. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion...

Following a long-running financial crisis, ChildLine became a part of the NSPCC on 1 February 2006. Esther Rantzen became a member of the NSPCC's board of trustees, and was given the honorary title, "President of ChildLine." Shortly before joining the NSPCC, Amicus became the recognised trade union for ChildLine staff and volunteers. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a UK charity working in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. ... The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a UK charity working in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. ... A committee is a (relatively) small group that can serve one of several functions: Governance: in organizations too large for all the members to participate in decisions affecting the organization as a whole, a committee (such as a Board of Directors) is given the power to make decisions. ... The word trustee is a legal term that refers to a holder of property on behalf of some other beneficiary. ... Amicus is Britains second largest trade union, formed by the merger of MSF (Manufacturing Science and Finance) and the AEEU (Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union) agreed in 2001. ...

The primary role of ChildLine is to provide a 24-hour telephone helpline to comfort and advise children suffering because of bullying, child abuse, problems at school or other concerns. It also works with schools on anti-bullying initiatives and peer support networks, as well as lobbying government. Bullying is the tormenting of others through verbal harassment, physical assault, or other more subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation. ... Child abuse is the physical or psychological maltreatment of a child, often synonymous with the terms child maltreatment and child abuse and neglect. ... Students in Rome, Italy. ... Peer support is a support initiative, normally within a school or university, to help pupils deal with issues such as bullying, stress, or other problems that they may come across while at school. ...

ChildLine has 11 counselling centres around the UK, staffed largely by volunteers. In 2004 it was controversially announced that the organisation's Nottingham base, which had been the second to open after the London headquarters, was to be closed as a cost-cutting measure. Before joining the NSPCC, plans were in place to close another base in Newton Abbot, and to scale down the size of ChildLine's operation in Leeds. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nottingham is a city (and county town of Nottinghamshire) in the East Midlands of England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Location within the British Isles Newton Abbot is a market town in Devon , England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580 (2001 census). ... Leeds is a major city in West Yorkshire, England. ...

Approximately 4,500 children phone ChildLine every day, though only 2,500 of these callers can be answered.

Despite most mobile phone operators charging for freephone 0800 calls, calls to ChildLine's number are not charged by any UK mobile network. Childline posters point out that "the call will not appear on your bill", for the benefit of children wishing to phone in secret.

International

Similar children's helplines using the name ChildLine have been formed in a number of countries. As of 2005 these included India, Ireland, Namibia, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe. Some of these are independent charities; others have been set up by existing children's charities or more general helplines. 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• ChildLine UK - official site
• ChildLine set to join NSPCC
• Childline India - Official site of Childline India Foundation