Childline provides lifeline to thousands of children during coronavirus lockdown

Childline has carried out over 2,200 counselling session about coronavirus (COVID-19) since late January.1

Despite having to close Childline’s night service for the first time ever and seeing a 30% drop in volunteer hours due to counsellors self-isolating, we’re battling to still be there for children. Our counsellors have carried out over 1,700 counselling sessions about coronavirus in the last three weeks alone.2

We are increasingly concerned about the number of children who will experience abuse or neglect due to the impact of coronavirus, with families struggling with lockdown, job losses and school closures.

During the past week Childline has delivered 363 counselling sessions where children have experienced physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect – up nearly a fifth from the week before.3

"I am not happy at home. My parents are physically abusing me - it's happening quite often now since schools closed and I'm really scared. They hit me and often it leaves me with bruises. I really want to get out of the house and be somewhere safe and happy. I'm scared that my parents will get angry and hurt me more if I tell someone."
15-year-old girl to Childline

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Over the last few weeks Childline has heard from children whose parents have lost their jobs, young carers struggling to look after their siblings when their parents fall sick with coronavirus symptoms.

Childline is also hearing from children who have had suicidal thoughts and talk about feeling trapped and isolated.

Dame Esther Rantzen

Dame Esther Rantzen, Founder of Childline, said:
“Now more than ever we must continue to be there for the young people who desperately need us, no matter what.

We don’t know what other challenges lie ahead, but we want to be prepared to weather any storm so that we can be there for children.

That is why we are urging the public to get behind our very important emergency appeal and donate £10 so that we can provide essential support.”

Tips and advice to help cope with coronavirus (COVID-19)

Visit our coronavirus advice hub for tips and advice for parents and carers - from talking to a child worried about coronavirus to taking care of your mental health and much more.

Childline also has a huge online community where children can get support from their peers on message boards and use expert resources to help them through any issue they're worried about.

If adults are worried about children they can get advice on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.

Worried about a child?

Contact our child protection specialists for help, advice and support.

0808 800 5000

Report a concern

References

  1. Total between 19 March 2020 and 8 April 2020.

  2. Total between 2 and 8 April 2020.

  3. Total number of counselling sessions between 21 January 2020 and 8 April 2020 where the word “coronavirus”, “covid-19” or “virus” was mentioned.