Interview with a young ChildLine volunteer
What motivated you to become a ChildLine counsellor?
As a young person I went through a long period of time being bullied at school. I contemplated taking my own life but then somebody gave me ChildLine’s number 0800 1111.
As I started 6th form, my awareness and knowledge grew about the issues facing young people today and I became interested in youth work as a career. I wanted to know how to support and empower young people going through ‘stuff’ in their lives today.
I talked to many people who were connected with ChildLine (school workers, fundraisers and counsellors) and found that they were now training 16 year olds, so I applied. Training as a ChildLine counsellor was the next step for me - and I have never looked back.
How long have you been working on the ChildLine helpline?
I trained in January 2005 and have been answering calls since Easter 2005.
What kind of training did you undergo? And how long did it take?
I undertook the 10-week ChildLine Counselling training - Tuesday nights 6.30-9.30pm whilst doing my AS levels.
Was it hard work?
It was very challenging, and I learnt a lot about myself as the weeks went by.
What kind of calls do you take on the helpline?
I take a whole mixture of calls. You can talk to ChildLine about anything - no problem is too big or too small. If you are feeling worried or scared or just want to talk to someone you can call ChildLine. Some of the things that people phone about are feeling lonely or unloved, worries about their future, problems about school, bullying, drugs, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, physical and sexual abuse, running away and concerns about parents, brothers, sisters and friends, and crimes against them. Whatever the worry, large or small, we're here to offer advice and support.
What happens when people call ChildLine?
When you phone ChildLine, you'll be able to speak to someone who cares about your problems. Like me, the counsellors are all trained - they will listen to you and try to help you. If you're worried or feeling scared, that's OK. You can tell them. It's their job to listen to you and sometimes to put you in touch with someone who can help you.
Speaking out about problems or talking about your feelings can be really difficult, but it's the right thing to do. Think about how much better you will feel if you can talk about it with someone who understands.
We can suggest who else could help and will describe what would probably happen if you decided to involve them. If you feel too scared or shy to talk to someone else who could help you then, with your permission, ChildLine will talk to others on your behalf.
Calls to ChildLine are confidential - you can talk about whatever you want to and we won't tell anyone else, unless you want us to. ChildLine counsellors will only take action if they feel it's an emergency.
What if people can't get through to ChildLine?
We take a lot of calls from people needing help, and sometimes they might not get through the first time they call. If they don't get through, I would say keep trying and we’ll answer the call as soon as we can.
Do calls to ChildLine show up on the phone bill?
No. Because ChildLine is an 0800 number, calls are free and don't show up on a BT or cable phone bill. Calls to ChildLine on 0800 1111 are currently free from all the existing networks - 3, BT Mobile, Fresh, O2, Orange, T Mobile, Virgin, Vodafone. We have been told that calls will not appear on any of these bills.
Is it free to call ChildLine from mobile phones?
Yes. Calls to ChildLine on 0800 1111 are currently free from all the existing networks, including 3, BT Mobile, Fresh, O2, Orange, T Mobile, Virgin, and Vodafone.
Jenny, aged 20