Media release from Barnardos New Zealand

Children call for help over Christmas

Christmas is coming, and the excitement is building for children across New Zealand. But sadly, too many kids will spend the holiday season facing problems and concerns about relationships, bullying, development, and sometimes more extreme issues such as violence, neglect and suicide. For these children, Christmas is a hard time.

The 0800 What’s Up line, provided by Barnardos, is in high demand and receives around 1,000 calls every day from children and young people in need of support – but demand continues to outstrip our capacity. Over 60% of calls go unanswered, leaving thousands of children without the support they need.

0800 What’s Up manager Rhonda Morrison says: “We do see children needing a lot of support over the school holidays – especially in January as they start thinking about their return to school.”

The early intervention approach of 0800 What’s Up can help to empower children and young people to overcome problems before they get out of control, and our trained counsellors reach more than 100,000 children each year and help them to find positive solutions to their problems.

It’s a big achievement, but we need to raise an additional $280,000 this financial year to maintain this level of response, and more to increase the number of calls we can answer from children who need our help. Donations from individuals and companies are vital to maintain the service, and we’re delighted that top investment management company Milford Asset Management recently came on board as an 0800 What’s Up sponsor.

Managing Director Anthony Quirk says, “Milford wanted to support a charity where we could make a real impact.  The huge number of calls 0800 What’s Up receives shows there’s a real need for the service, and through our support more trained counsellors will be able to answer these calls.”

We’re also pleased to have Shortland Street star Chris Tempest as an ambassador for the service. Chris says, “In a country where teen suicide levels are so high and there is a culture of cutting people down before they get too tall, it’s essential that we support youth in any way we can. Being a teen is hard enough – add to that any domestic issues, abuse or even normal relationship dramas and it gets incredibly challenging for a developing human being. 0800 What’s Up lends an ear, a counsellor, even a friend, and makes a positive impact where there otherwise may not be one. It’s so important because, as cheesy as it sounds, children are our future.”

You can help by donating – each call costs an average of $7.50 to answer so every little helps us to answer calls and change children’s lives! Call 0900 60125 to make a $25 donation from your phone bill, or go to www.whatsup.co.nz/grown-ups to find out more about becoming a supporter. As New Zealand’s most accessed helpline for children and young people, we know how many Kiwi kids are facing serious problems, and how vital it is for them to have someone to talk to.

About 0800 What’s Up

0800 What's Up is a free, national phone counselling service for five to 18 year olds. It’s open 365 days a year from 1pm-11pm, and in an average year answers more than 100,000 calls – in fact, it’s the most accessed professional telephone counselling service for children and young people in New Zealand. More than 95% of the helpline’s funding comes through the generosity of New Zealanders who want to make a difference to children’s lives.  To support 0800 What’s Up, visit www.whatsup.co.nz/grown-ups

ENDS

© Scoop Media