1. Empowering
children
through the
use of new
technologies
2012

2. ISPCC
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children (ISPCC) was founded in 1889
It is Ireland’s oldest and most well-known
children’s charity
The ISPCC has a long, proud history of service
delivery and advocacy on behalf of children

3. CHILDLINE
Childline is a 24 hour listening service for children
up to the age of 18
Childline seeks to empower and support children
through the use of telecommunications and
information technology

4. What does Childline do?
Childline listens to children by using Active listening skills and Child
centred practice
It is an non directive and non-judgemental service
Childline phone service is available 24 hours a day every day of the
year
Children can also contact Childline, access support and information by
logging on to childline.ie
Young people can talk to Childline’s One to One live chat service on the
web and by text. These services are available from 2pm-10pm daily.

5. Online Consultation, Support and
Information
•By logging on to www.childline young people can
access support around issues that affect them
•They can also access information about their
rights
•They can gives us their views about our services
by completing our Viewpoint questionnaire

6. Giving children control
Childline is a service for and owned by young
people which means
The young person can decide what they want to
talk about
They remain anonymous – they don’t have to give
a name so there are no consequences to
contacting Childline.

7. Childline stats 2011
Total number of calls received:839,258
Total number of contacts: 547,340
Childline Phone: 523,804
Childline Online Contact: 23,536
Childline Online Services
Teentxt 17,082
Web: 6,454
Total 23,536

8. Profile stats 2011
Phone Online
Personal life 43% 30%
Abuse & 14% 9%
Welfare
Mental 9% 18%
Health
Sexuality 12% 6%
Relationships 8% 24%
Information 14% 13%

9. Some quotes from Viewpoint giving young people’s
views of Childline online
•“They talked me through my problems and just asked questions and never
assumed anything and they calmed me down if I was gonna do anything like kill
myself or self harm and it’s comforting knowing someone is there to listen to
you”
•“It means you don’t have to pick up the phone talk out loud”
•“It’s just real simple and easy and it’s great that you feel you can talk about
anything”
•“They listen to you and you can have your say and they don’t give their opinion
or tell you what to do”
• “The One to One service helps us, young people, to know what our rights are
and to try and solve our problems with the people we trust before asking
"experts“ for help. which is great”

10. Some quotes from Viewpoint giving young people’s
views of Teentxt
•“You can tell them anything and you know they wouldn’t dare leek a word. I
love Teentxt!”
•“The people you are talking to, it feels like they are the only person who
understands what you are going through and it’s a nice feeling…”
•“It’s so easy to get in contact with, I would always be way too nervous to call
but texting is so much easier and it’s so helpful”.
•“The best thing about Teentext is that you can talk to someone when no one
else is around and it makes you feel like you are wanted somewhere”
•“I was kind of scared at first but it was so much easier than I expected, the
Teentext worker was so supportive and it really gave me a chance to think
things through when before it was all just spinning in my head. It helped me feel
more in control and has just helped me so much”

11. Childline Online Case Study
JADE
Age 13
Being bullied/self harm

12. Advantages (for young people) of
Child centred online support
• Easily accessible
• Young people feel safe because of non – judgemental
approach
• Children get a real sense of anonymity
• Takes less time to build trust and rapport
• Children tend to be more open
• Gives young people more choice
• User satisfaction