Raising funds to grow the NSPCC helplines

The Child’s Voice Appeal

On 22 September 2008, the NSPCC launched the Child’s Voice Appeal . The aim is to raise £50 million over the next three years to grow the NSPCC helplines, text and online counselling services.

Every day the NSPCC helplines receive thousands of calls from worried and distressed children, parents, family members and concerned members of the public.

Last year ChildLine received 2.3 million calls, approximately one third were unanswered.

Last year the NSPCC helpline received 95,000 calls, approximately 15,000 were unanswered. Yet, last year over 9,000 calls were so serious that they had to be referred to the police or children’s services.

The NSPCC aims to increase its volunteer counselling force from 1,200 to 1,800 and open two new ChildLine call centres. A new ChildLine online service will also be created, allowing children and young people to receive live, one-to-one counselling from trained volunteers.

A number of celebrities supported the launch of the Child's Voice Appeal , including NSPCC ambassador Kylie Minogue.