820 children have contacted Childline so far this Christmas, ISPCC reveals

Eva Osborne

820 children and young people have contacted Childline so far this Christmas, according to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC).

The data, which was compiled over the three day Christmas period from December 23rd-December 25th, revealed a 12 per cent increase in connections made with the listening service compared with Christmas 2023.

The ISPCC expects St Stephen's Day to be one of the busiest days of the year for Childline, which receives calls from children on the topcs of suicide, abuse, neglect, bereavement, and loneliness.

There has been a noticeable trend over the last year whereby those children engaging with Childline are at extremely high risk of harm, the ISPCC said.

National Childline listening co-ordinator, Elizabeth Donlon Fox, said: “Our data reveals that today, December 26th, will be one of the busiest days of the year for our team of staff and volunteers at Childline, and we expect that over 250 children and young people will reach out to us today because of something that has happened to them over Christmas.”

ISPCC chief executive, John Church, said: “For too many children and young people, Christmas simply doesn’t happen.

"They turn to Childline for support, and our amazing staff and volunteers are there for them 24/7 over Christmas, as they are throughout the year.

"We depend on donations for up to 90 per cent of the funding which keeps us listening 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. Without this help, we would not be able to be here for every child who needs us.”