DENBIGHSHIRE primary school pupils will be amongst the first in the UK to receive a new service from ChildLine.
The new ChildLine Schools Service aims to teach primary-age children about abuse, including bullying, how to protect themselves and where to get help if they need it.
ChildLine’s founder Esther Rantzen will be visiting the helpline’s North Wales base in Prestatyn today (Wednesday) in an urgent appeal for volunteers as part of the helpline’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
In keeping with ChildLine’s history of volunteering, the new schools service will be led by volunteers.
First piloted in 2010, there are two stages to the new service which will give volunteers the opportunity to work directly with groups of children.
The first stage is a school assembly that provides definitions of abuse, places to go for help and an introduction to ChildLine.
The second stage takes place one to two weeks later and is an interactive classroom-based workshop where the messages are reinforced and skills are developed.
“This is an exciting opportunity to get involved with ChildLine’s newest initiative to directly help children across primary schools in Denbighshire,” said Rhian Jones, ChildLine Schools Service area coordinator for Denbighshire.
“Volunteers will be central to the delivery of the schools service and their role will be to present assemblies and workshops to children aged between seven and 11 years-old.
“We want to appeal to a range of people who are committed to helping protect and safeguard children.
“There is no set ‘type’ of volunteer but we want communities to be involved and see the Service as belonging to them locally.
“Volunteers will ideally be people who live near to the schools they visit.
“We need people who can communicate and engage with children and are confident to deliver presentations.”
Volunteers must be 16 or over and ChildLine will provide all the relevant training and support required for the role.
For more information about volunteering for the schools service, contact Rhian Jones on 07980 005 964, or email: Rhian.jones@nspcc.org.uk or visit: www.nspcc.org.uk/schoolsservice