Issue 155

Doing it for the kids

08th May 2007

What do you think of when you think of ChildLine? Maybe you think of a service that you remember being advertised at school, or perhaps Esther Rantzen springs to mind? You may not be aware that there is a ChildLine base here in Swansea city centre that relies heavily on voluntary telephone counsellors.

Training requires effort and determination, but the rewards are immense. You can do a 10 to 11 week training programme or, if it suits your lifestyle better, a new condensed course which runs over a few weekends is available. The training you receive will make you look at yourself as a person and will make you realise how much you really do, or don't, listen in conversations. Training and calls will touch on issues that society generally shies away from. This really makes you think about how and why you respond to sensitive issues in the way that you do. It's a chance to develop counselling skills that can be applied to many aspects/situations in life.

You will, without a doubt become a better listener because you will be trained how to listen properly and to encourage and make it easier for someone to talk. This is worthwhile, rewarding and thought-provoking work that will benefit you, as much as the children and young people you will be helping. It certainly puts your life and everyday grumbles into perspective.

It's a chance to meet some like-minded, caring and friendly people from all walks of life. ChildLine is a place where you can be honest without being judged, something which can be a novelty in everyday life. Uni can be a place where you are under a lot of pressure to do well and are sometimes under constant scrutiny with your work and open to criticism that is not always constructive. Your training and ability is carefully monitored at ChildLine in a way that encourages positive feedback and constructive criticism. Support is always available and some see ChildLine as a haven from the hustle and bustle of a working day, some even go as far to say that the network of support available at ChildLine is like a second family.

Some calls will upset or frustrate you. As a counsellor you can be fairly limited by what you can do for a child or young person. ChildLine is primarily about listening and exploring feelings rather than giving advice or telling a child what to do. You always have to remember that it is the caller's call and not your call, as it is ultimately their life and their problem. Detaching yourself from the situation is perhaps the hardest thing to do sometimes as a counsellor.

ChildLine receives more than 4,000 calls a day across the UK. You may be wondering what children call about, this of course ranges from caller to caller. Bullying has been the most common reason for children to call ChildLine for nine consecutive years.

Other problems include family problems and divorce, physical and sexual abuse, pregnancy, facts of life and drug problems.

There is never a typical caller with a typical problem. Ryan, 13, speaks of his experience with ChildLine, "For a long time, I didn't know that there were people in this world I could trust. But now, through ChildLine, I know that I'm not on my own. Without ChildLine, I don't think I'd still be alive right now." (ChildLine Annual Review, 2005)

Volunteering for ChildLine Swansea does not have to end when your degree does. ChildLine has bases across the country including Rhyl, London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Leeds.

Therefore your experience and training with ChildLine Swansea can stay with you after you graduate and throughout your career.

If you are a calm and patient individual who is open-minded and has a concern for children, then perhaps you may be interested in volunteering.

As a telephone counsellor, ChildLine asks for a commitment of three hours a week. But, if you've only got an hour to spare, then why not try working on our switchboard? Either way, ChildLine would love to hear from you if you are interested in helping.

If you'd like more information please phone the Swansea office on 0870 336 2935 or email Rob Ronconi at . Alternatively visit www.childline.org.uk.

Volunteer information meetings are scheduled throughout 2007 in Swansea, so just call for more information. ChildLine Swansea is based on the ninth floor of Alexandra House, (just opposite the train station).

The NSPCC and ChildLine have now joined together in a move that will ensure even stronger services and a more influential voice for children and young people.

The ChildLine service, now within the NSPCC, still has the same well known telephone number - 0800 1111 - and children and young people can still call 24 hours a day and receive the same crucial service.

The NSPCC Cymru/Wales Child Protection Helpline - 0808 100 2524 also remains the same and is a bilingual service available to adults with concerns or worries about a child.

Natalie Pilkington