ChildLine says:- "thank you" to its 'Volunteer Heroes' in Liverpool and calls for more local people to get involved

2 Liverpool volunteers are among a number of people being recognised as Volunteer Heroes during Volunteers' Week that ran from 1 June to 7 June 2014 for their efforts to support the ChildLine Schools Service.  Both Ann Moore from Grassendale and Pat Boyle from Allerton in Liverpool are active volunteers for the ChildLine Schools Service volunteers and are just 2 of more than 10,000 plus team of people who regularly undertake a wide range of activities on behalf of the charity.

ChildLine is now appealing for more local people in Liverpool to come forward and volunteer for the Schools Service which aims to help younger children's understanding of abuse and how they can stay safe. By using assemblies and workshops delivered by trained volunteers ChildLine helps children recognise situations where they may need help and tells them how to access support, and all sessions are sensitively tailored to ensure topics are covered in a way which is age appropriate.

Retired grandmother of three Ann Moore has been volunteering her time as for the ChildLine Schools Service for the last 12 months. Commenting on her volunteering role for the service, Ann, 59, said:- "After a long and happy carer working in the education sector, I was looking for a volunteer role that would keep me in touch with schools, but also give me the flexibility to spend more time with my family, so getting involved with the ChildLine Schools Service was perfect. Throughout my career I have been passionate about ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of children, and this service helps do just that, by educating children about the issues of abuse, and how they can keep themselves happy and safe. Being a volunteer is a very rewarding use of my time. I love going into the schools and working with the young people, helping them think, reflect and respond honestly and sensitively when taking about different forms of abuse. The role is flexible, you don't have to be tied down to a particular time or day of the week, so its fits in with other commitments, and we get full support and training from ChildLine throughout. I enjoy being part of the volunteer network, making new friends learning new skills, delivering important messages to children and helping make a difference. To anyone thinking about it I would say get in touch with ChildLine; you'll find it really worthwhile."

Another volunteer from Allerton is Pat Boyle, a 63 year old retired pharmaceutical hospital sales executive who has been volunteering for the ChildLine Schools Service for the last eight months. Pat said:- "As a volunteer for the ChildLine Schools Service I visit primary schools and present assemblies and workshops to children in years 5 and 6 in order to help children understand the issues of abuse, making children aware of what is okay & what is not okay. I believe every child should have a voice and all children deserve to be happy and safe, so I'm pleased through this role I can help make a difference to some children's lives. I would encourage anyone to get involved in volunteering; not only do I enjoy the interaction with the children; I have learnt a great deal, have fantastic training and support from the ChildLine team and also have lots of fun!"

ChildLine Area Co-ordinator in Liverpool, Helen O' Sullivan said:- "Our volunteers really are heroes to us and more importantly to the children that we work to protect, and so we wanted to celebrate them and the fantastic things that they do to make our work with vulnerable children possible. Ann and Pat's support has been invaluable and we would like to appeal to other local people to become ChildLine Schools Service volunteers."

To find out more about the volunteering opportunities with the ChildLine Schools Services, contact Helen O' Sullivan, ChildLine Schools Service Area Coordinator for Liverpool via:- email.

The service are also looking for primary schools interested in hosting an assembly and workshop to get in touch. Please visit:- nspcc.org.uk/schoolsservice or contact Helen O' Sullivan if you would like to chat about the Schools Service coming into your school.

Helen added:- "Even if you're not able to become a Schools Service volunteer, but you can spare maybe an hour a month, or even just one day to help the NSPCC, we would love to hear from you. We have numerous volunteering opportunities ranging from helping at a collection in your local shopping centre, to taking part in the London Marathon, or becoming a volunteer driver at one of our centres; however you can help, please do get in touch."

The ChildLine helpline in Liverpool are also on the lookout for volunteers to support children and young people either by phone or via its online service and the base on Great Homer Street are calling on people to give up their time to help children by becoming a ChildLine counsellor. They are hoping to double the number of volunteers so more children's cries for help can be answered.

Stephanie Kelly, ChildLine volunteer coordinator in Liverpool said:- "A child can feel even more alone if they have plucked up the courage to contact ChildLine and can't get through. More counselling volunteers are urgently required in Liverpool to help ChildLine reach more children and young people who are in need of help and support. "

Children contact ChildLine about a wide range of issues including bullying, sexual and physical abuse and breakdowns in family relationships. Counselling volunteers offer free confidential advice and support to these children 24 hours a day, either over the phone, by email or via one 2 one chat. They help children, listen to the child and offer advice and support that is relevant to them. They also help children talk through their problems and encourage them to speak to someone they can trust.

Stephanie continued:- "We're looking for people who genuinely care about children and young people, are open minded, non judgemental and respectful, can listen to distressing and painful feelings and problems. ChildLine is a lifeline for many children who have nowhere else to turn so we must make sure we have enough volunteers to answer every child who contacts us. To find out more about the volunteering opportunities at the ChildLine base in Liverpool, please visit:- nspcc.org.uk/volunteer  or contact ChildLine in Liverpool on:- 0207 456 7724."

During 2012 to 2013, the NSPCC's 10,000 volunteers achieved some amazing things for the charity:-

►  1,332 ChildLine volunteers answered more than 1.4 million contacts from children and young people.

►  22,142 children and young people took part in activities, including staff recruitment, government consultations, and writing for the media.

►  7,000 volunteers raised more than £4m by staging local events and activities.

►  2,800 people gave up their time to run, cycle and trek for children, and raised £2.7m in the process.

►  500 volunteers did everything from cheering on our participants in running events to giving our London Marathon runners a post race massage.

Can you help the investigation into a fatal RTC on the Perimeter Road, Bootle?

MERSEYSIDE Police are asking for an off-duty doctor to come forward who officers believe may have vital information about a fatal road traffic collision in Bootle in the early hours of yesterday, Sunday, 1 June 2014. The incident happened on the Northern Perimeter Road, around 0.20am to 0.30am. Emergency Services attended and found a 19 year old man who was being cared for by an off duty Doctor who left before patrols had an opportunity to speak to him. Sadly the 19 year old was pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later. Subsequently, a 23 year old man from the Bootle area voluntarily attended at a Police Station. He was then arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. They also added that a 23 year old man, from the Bootle area, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has since been released on Police Bail pending further enquiries. Merseyside Police said on the last update we have had on this RTC that:- "It's believed that the 19 year old had been in collision with a car which failed to stop at the scene. Officers from Merseyside Police believe that the Doctor may have information which could help with their enquiries and are appealing to him to get in touch. This person, or anyone else with information about the incident, is urged to call officers from the Matrix Serious and Organised Crime Roads Policing Unit on:- 0151 777 5747 or via the Police Non-Emergency:- 101 number. An investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident is continuing."