Teen calls on young people to volunteer for Childline service

A 17-year-old Childline counsellor has called on young people in Northern Ireland to volunteer for the service.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Jun 2020, 14:09 BST
Hector King, who volunteers for ChildlineHector King, who volunteers for Childline
Hector King, who volunteers for Childline

Hector King is a pupil at Methodist College Belfast and part of a team of volunteers who answer emails and calls at the Belfast base.

Hector, from Holywood, Co Down, started his training when he was 16 and is urging other young people to consider volunteering for Childline.

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He said: “I remember when I was very young, the NSPCC Schools Service came into my school and told us about it (Childline) and we all recited the number together. It’s 0800 1111 – I never forgot it!

“Later, when I was in Methody, my choir sang at an event at Stormont to celebrate Childline’s 30th birthday and Dame Esther Rantzen was there along with many volunteers.

“They spoke about some of the calls that they had received from children over the years and it was very moving and sad for me to think about all these young people having a childhood which was so much harder and more troubled than my own.”

Hector said you can volunteer for Childline from as as young as 16 with a parent’s permission.

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He encourged any young person who has been thinking about volunterring with Childline to get in touch.

“We need more volunteers urgently and there will be training sessions at the Belfast base starting soon.”

• For more information contact [email protected] or ring 02820 441641.

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Related topics:Northern Ireland