NSPCC volunteers in Wales preparing to help children over christmas

Volunteers at Childline in Wales are preparing to work over Christmas as children get in touch on issues including sexual abuse, family problems, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

Volunteers at Childline’s two Welsh bases in Cardiff and Prestatyn will be among those working over the festive period, including on Christmas Day itself.

On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day last year volunteers in Prestatyn carried out 144 counselling sessions with children from across the UK, having carried out 209 on the same days the previous year.

In Cardiff, which deals with online-only contact from children, the same days in 2016-17 saw 50 counselling sessions delivered up from 33 the previous year.

Children’s mental and emotional health was the most frequently-expressed concern faced by Childline counsellors over the festive period, followed by family relationships and suicidal feelings.