Local student encourages people in Cardiff to become ChildLine volunteer counsellors

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 11, 2012

Pic: ChildLine volunteer counsellor, Annemarie Newbury “it’s been a fantastic experience “

Annemarie Newbury, a 20 year old student from Cardiff, underwent training at the beginning of this year to become a ChildLine volunteer counsellor at the online base in Cardiff and is now encouraging others to do the same.

ChildLine is the UK’s free 24-hour confidential helpline for children and young people who are in danger or distress and need someone to turn to. Every day, thousands of young people contact ChildLine – either by phone or online, to talk about the problems they face. The support and advice they receive calms fears, solves problems and, in the most extreme cases, even saves lives.

Annemarie started her training in February, and after completing the XX week course she was able to take part in her first counselling session in April.

Annemarie said: “I decided to become a ChildLine volunteer because I thought it would be a great experience for me and that I would learn a lot from it. I wanted to do something meaningful, to know I was making a difference in someone’s life.

“I found the training very challenging and it surprised me how much I needed to learn but it’s been a fantastic experience and one I’ll never forget.”

ChildLine supervisor at the Cardiff base, Amy Jones, said: “We urgently need people to fill a number of shifts throughout the week.  You don’t need to have formal training or qualifications in counselling to apply as we will provide full training to all successful applicants. All you need is a commitment to children and young people, an open mind and an ability to listen and support young people who need to talk.”

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NSPCC and SPAR launch ‘Recipe for ChildLine’ in Cardiff

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 5, 2011

NSPCC and SPAR today (4 July) launched ‘Recipe for ChildLine’, a new initiative to get the people of Cardiff reminiscing, sharing and making their favourite childhood recipes, whilst raising money for the 24 hour helpline for children and young people.

Dishes can range from local traditional dishes such as Bara Brith, passed through the generations to simple classics that stir up special memories, smells and tastes from childhood.

For every recipe that is uploaded to www.spar.co.uk/FoodAndDrink/Recipes/SubmityourRecipe , SPAR will donate £4 to ChildLine, a service of the NSPCC. It costs the NSPCC £4 to answer a call to ChildLine, so every recipe uploaded will make sure there is someone there to answer a child’s call.

Joanna Leonard, local community fundraising manager, will be uploading her favourite recipe for Polish Cake.

She said: “Chocolate Polish Cake was one of my favourite home made treats when I was growing up!  I make it now with my own children and it brings back lots of happy memories.  I hope my own children will remember how much fun we had when we baked. Recipe for ChildLine is a really great initiative to get families reminiscing and spending time together, while also helping vulnerable children and young people. I hope many more people will get involved and share their favourite recipes.”

Maia Riley, SPAR’s spokesperson for South Wales, said: “Every family has their favourite food from childhood and we’re on a mission to get them cooking it! Whether you like bread and butter pudding with custard, an old fashioned curry or cottage pie, we want as many people as possible to upload their recipes and share their memories in aid of ChildLine.

“SPAR is at the heart of local communities and as a business, we strive to be there for our customers. Last year ChildLine counsellors responded to nearly 670,000 contacts from children and young people about a wide range of concerns, including family relationship problems, bullying and physical abuse.¹ Today we are asking our customers to help ChildLine be there for any child who needs support.”

The NSPCC and SPAR have been working in partnership for five years and have already raised over £2.5 million to help protect children across the UK.

Funds raised from ‘Recipe for ChildLine’ will allow the helpline to answer many more calls and online messages from worried or upset children and young people.

To upload your favourite recipe from your childhood visit www.spar.co.uk/FoodAndDrink/Recipes/SubmityourRecipe

 

‘Spring into summer’ with a skydive in aid of the NSPCC

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 10, 2011

The NSPCC is daring adrenaline junkies in Cardiff to take on a sponsored skydive this summer to help raise funds for the children’s charity.

Solo or tandem jumps are available year-round and anyone over the age of 16 and in good health can jump from one of 20 different sites across the UK, including Swansea.

NSPCC fundraising manager, Jo Leonard, said: “We are encouraging as many people as possible to take part in this exciting initiative and do their bit to help.

 

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