What is your New Year’s resolution for 2012? Did you know that the NSPCC has many ways that you can help make a fundamental difference to the lives of children and young people in Wales whatever your skills, talent and time available?
You could take part in one of the fantastic sporting events in 2012 or become a volunteer in one of the many roles on offer at the NSPCC, including: ChildLine counselling, volunteering for the new ChildLine Schools Service, fundraising, or taking part in a sponsored challenge event.
- ChildLine is the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people, whatever their worry. We need volunteers to help support children on the phone and online, 365 days a year. Our counsellors are there to listen and reassure them, help them think about and explore options and give them space to talk through their concerns by working at the child’s pace. The two ChildLine bases in Wales have various shift vacancies to fill.
- The ChildLine Schools Service aims to visit every primary school in the UK at least every two years to help children understand what abuse is – including bullying – how to protect themselves and how to seek help if they need it. 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. To volunteer for this service you will need to commit to delivering at least 10 sessions in local schools per academic year, during usual school times (9am – 3pm). Volunteers are needed across Wales.
- The NSPCC also has a wide range of sporting events like running, cycling, triathlons, sky diving and some extreme events. Help celebrate the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games by taking part in a Gold Challenge for the NSPCC. There are four different challenge options to choose from, each catering for participants of all abilities, and allowing you to do your Gold Challenge in your preferred sports and distances. The charity is calling on budding local athletes to cover a distance of 2012km either by walking, running, cycling, swimming, horse riding, sailing, windsurfing, rowing or canoeing, (or by choosing a combination of these activities), and to complete the challenge by December 2012. www.nspcc.org.uk/goldchallenge
- Becoming a fundraising volunteer is a great way to use your existing skills and can also give you the opportunity to develop new ones. As part of a group of volunteers your tasks could include: finding raffle or auction prizes, promoting an event to your friends, family and colleagues or planning or supporting an event. You could also organise your own fundraising activity, whether it’s out and about, at home, at school or in the office. Here are a few examples: tea parties and picnics, concerts and open gardens, quizzes and swap shop fashion evenings.
For further details about volunteering and details of all the events happening across Wales please visit www.nspcc.org.uk.
NSPCC head of community fundraising for Wales and the Welsh borders, Nigel Impey, said: “There are so many ways you can help us help more children and young people in 2012. Please take some time to visit our website and check out the different range of volunteering roles. There really is something for everyone, no matter how much or little time you can spare.
“We also have some great events taking place throughout the year. If one of your new year’s resolutions is to get fit then look no further than one of our HACK hiking challenges, or the 2012 Gold Challenge or if you want something less physically demanding, how about coming to a ball.”
He continued: “A really simple, quick way to support us this year is to donate £4 by texting WALES or CYMRU to 70744. Just £4 could ensure that, when a child plucks up the courage to ask someone for help, ChildLine is there to answer their call or email.”
Messages cost £4 plus one standard message, and you must have the bill payer’s permission. NSPCC receives approximately £3.99 per message depending on your network. By donating by text you agree to the NSPCC contacting you in the future, either by phone or SMS.
