North Wales college to fund Childline across the UK on GCSE results day
COLEG CAMBRIA will sponsor every Childline base in the UK for 24 hours this Thursday.
The north-east Wales college will pay for the cost of running the free and confidential NSPCC-supported counselling service as part of its One Unforgettable Day scheme.
Cambria raised an incredible £115,000 for NSPCC Cymru/Wales last year with a series of events and activities, notably an audience with former Wales and British Lions rugby captain Sam Warburton, who selected the charity as one of the beneficiaries during his testimonial year.
The college has decided to use £30,000 of that total for the initiative, which meets the cost of funding all 12 Childline centres across the UK for 24 hours.
As this Thursday is also GCSE results day, Cambria’s Chief Executive David Jones said it would be fitting to show their support for the lifesaving call and support network.
Mr Jones visited Childline’s North Wales base in Prestatyn and met counsellors and volunteers who help thousands of young people who call from across the UK every year.
Paying tribute to their dedication and commitment, he said: “At Cambria the students and our community are paramount, they are the number one priority.
“To meet some of the volunteers and call operators first-hand was very humbling, and a real eye opener.
“It makes us even more determined to continue having a positive impact on the lives of our students and their families, and to be there if they need us, now and in the future.”
Mr Jones added: “Raising funds for NSPCC Cymru/Wales and Childline was so important to us, but we also wanted to raise awareness to the amazing work they do all over the country.
“For us to make this significant contribution for one day – and for that day to be the most important in the young lives of so many teenagers across the UK – means a lot to everyone at Coleg Cambria.
“The rest of the money will be used by the NSPCC to support young people and families across North Wales, who are the lifeblood of our communities.”
Last year, Childline carried out more than 8,000 counselling sessions with children from Wales with the most frequent concerns mental and emotional health, family relationships and suicidal feelings.
Cambria’s donation will fund the 12 UK Childline centres in Prestatyn, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Foyle, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Nottingham.
An NSPCC Cymru-Wales spokesperson said: “Childline is an incredibly vital service for children and young people in Wales and beyond and it is there for those who need it 24/7, 365 days a year.
“Without the help of supporters like Coleg Cambria, it simply would not be able to function. We would like to thank everyone associated with the college, particularly staff, students and supporters who took part in fundraising activities on behalf of the NSPCC, for their support of this valuable service for the help it will give some of the most vulnerable in society.”
For more on Coleg Cambria, visit the website: www.cambria.ac.uk
Visit www.nspcc.org.uk for information on how you can support the NSPCC and Childline.
NOTES: If you are interested in fundraising for the NSPCC or volunteering for Childline, contact Jess Finnegan, the fundraising and partnerships manager for North Wales and Welsh Borders, on 07976065258 or jess.finnegan@nspcc.org.uk