Regular readers will already know that this year we are supporting the NSPCC’s #LetterFromSanta campaign. For a suggested donation of just £5 you can get your own personalised and beautifully illustrated letter from Santa for your child.
Every £5 raised by Letter from Santa could help ChildLine be there whenever a child seeks help either online or by phone. Every £12 raised could help train a ChildLine Schools Service volunteer to talk to a primary school child about abuse, giving them the confidence to talk and showing them who is ready to listen. Every £50 raised could help an NSPCC practitioner deliver two hours of telephone support to anyone with concerns about a child.
Below are some ChildLine snapshots which illustrate just how much this money is needed to support vulnerable children. It is not easy reading…
Posed by a model.
Photo credit: Jon Challicom
“I started self-harming when my Mum left us. Mum and Dad were always fighting and Mum had a problem with alcohol. Mum was always there for me, and now I don’t see her anymore. Dad won’t let me have any contact with her. I don’t want to tell my dad how I feel as I don’t want to upset him. It doesn’t feel good to cut but I need to. I think it might bring Mum back to me and it allows me space to think and concentrate on something else. It feels good talking to ChildLine as I can say how I feel and ChildLine listens to me.”- Teenage female
“When I get angry I self-harm. I get angry when I am called names at school. Self-harming makes the anger go away. I have tried other ways of coping but nothing works. Talking to ChildLine helps as I have no-one else to talk to. ” – Teenage female
Posed by a model.
Photo credit: Jon Challicom
“I have been cutting for a while, I can’t talk to my parents about it as they are the reason I self-harm. My parents shout at me, I feel so much pressure, cutting is a real release for me. I have contacted ChildLine as I needed to tell someone, no-one else understands me.” – Teenage male
“I’m really feeling suicidal at the moment. I have been to hospital before as I have tried to end my life by taking an overdose. I’m bullied at school and I’m feeling so angry with my dad. He drinks a lot and moved away a year ago. Sometimes going for a walk can help and I’m really close to my mum. I have medication for my severe depression, but I really feel like it isn’t working. I’m so glad ChildLine can help me.” – Teenage male
Posed by a model.
Photo credit: Jon Challicom
“I cut myself the other day. I cut because some people at school made me feel angry. When I get urges to self-harm, it’s like a pain I can’t ignore and I need to set it free. No-one knows I self-harm, I don’t feel I can tell anyone – only ChildLine. I have tried to write things down, but the words don’t come out. I worry sometimes that I could get infections from cutting.” – Teenage female
Please help us to support the NSPCC Letter From Santa campaign this year and raise vital funds which will help ChildLine support vulnerable children this Xmas and beyond.
Santa’s mailroom is open until 15 December 2014, and all those who request a Letter from Santa this year will be entered into a draw to win a Center Parcs holiday for a family of four.
Request your Letter from Santa from 1 October 2014 at www.nspcc.org.uk/santa or by calling 0845 839 9304.
Childline is such a good cause, well done. x
I am in the process of writing a post about Childline, as I visited my local HQ recently. Amazing people and work they do.
ah such an important cause children must have someone to talk to
Such an important cause, well done you for highlighting. It’s so easy to forget that not everyone is as lucky as us at this time of year.
Childline do some fantastic work, and what a lovely way to be able to support them.
Those stories are heartbreaking. Christmas is always a time for great happiness for most families but such sadness for others.
So sad and such an important charity to keep supporting. Well done for posting on it.
This is such a great way to raise money for a brilliant charity x x
great cause Jenny!
What a wonderful idea! Thanks for the tip. We’ll totally be doing this xx
Thanks Jenny, I’ve not requested one of these letters before but you have convinced me, I need ot support their work. Mich x
Great way to help, I have shared on twitter. I popped over from the #parentingpinitparty