14 November 2011
Barnardos NZ

0800 What’s Up child helplineto celebrate 10 years of service to children

0800 What’s Up (0800 942 8787) – the nation’s only dedicated child helpline – will celebrate its 10th birthday at a special event in Auckland on 17 November.

0800 What’s Up is a vital service for children and young people providing free, confidential, professional telephone counselling for five to 18 year olds. The helpline is available from 12 noon to 12 midnight 365 days per year, and receives around 500,000 calls from children each year.

It is important for children to have access to a helpline that is child-centred and meets their specific needs.

To help mark the 10th birthday of the 0800 What’s Up service, children all over the country have participated in an art competition depicting the importance of the child helpline. The winner of the competition will be announced at the birthday party and presented with a Blue Fujifilm Finepix Camera. The competition has been promoted through Sticky TV and What’s Up. The artwork will be used to develop a new 0800 What’s Up poster.

What’s Up Ambassadors, international triathlete Terenzo Bozzone, musician Peter Urlich and athlete Cam Calkoen will attend the party and talk about their support for the charity. (Bio notes below) Peter Urlich will perform.

News media are invited to attend the celebration, learn what issues children are calling about, and meet the winner of the 0800 What’s Up art competition.

When: 6-8pm Thursday 17 November 2011

Where: The Business Lounge at Telecom Place
167 Victoria Street West, Auckland

To RSVP, or for more information, please contact:

0800 What’s Up AmbassadorsTerenzo Bozzone"The future of tomorrow is in the hands of the youth of today. We have a responsibility to do whatever we can to help mold that future into the best it can be. 0800 What’s Up is an amazing charity and I am proud to say I support it. It is great that kids have somewhere to call when they need help or advice, and I strongly support 0800What’s Up goal to ensure their telephone lines are open for children 24 hours a day, 365 day a year, to enable every child to get help with their problems. It is essential New Zealanders support charities like 0800 What’s Up in order to ensure our youth the best possibility to succeed".

www.terenzo.comPeter UrlichCam Calkoen Support is the foundation that goals and dreams are built on and I am to give my support to an organisation to ‘make a difference’ especially if its supporting children and teenagers. I am proud to be involved with 0800What’s Up andI feel that I am helping other young people set goals, connect the dots and create new and exciting possibilities for their future as I have.”

ENDS

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