That’s life for Childline, says Esther

THE founder of ChildLine, Esther Rantzen, pictured above, marked the helpline’s 25th anniversary by thanking volunteers at its NSPCC base in Leeds. The 24-hour free helpline, set up in 1986, has counselled thousands of children and young people. During yesterday’s visit she said: ‘ChildLine is a vital life line for thousands of young people who desperately need support and advice with problems they dare not share with anyone else, such as bullying, self-harm, sexual and physical abuse and depression. Up until now, many children had to try many times before they could get through to ChildLine. It makes me especially proud in our 25th anniversary year that we can say, for the first time in ChildLine’s history, we can now answer almost every call or email the first time a child tries to get through.’