00:01Esther was a force of nature. I mean, she was a remarkable woman. And there's very few
00:07people in our country who can look back after 40 years and point to the impact that they
00:12had. I mean, over the past 40 years, Childline has taken more than 6 million contacts from
00:18children and young people. Children and young people are in dire straits, who have nowhere
00:22else to turn to, but also children just want someone to turn to. I mean, Sally told me
00:26a story about a young person who contacted her who just wanted to practice their times
00:30tables because their mum was busy. And that safe listening space is needed now more than
00:38ever.
00:38For children who feel unable to tell a parent, teacher or friend what's happening, Childline
00:44offers a place to talk in confidence at any hour. Founded by Dame Esther Ranson in 1986,
00:51the service became part of the NSPCC in 2006. Her death has brought renewed attention to
00:58the charity she created and to the counsellors and volunteers who continue to support young
01:04people with problems ranging from abuse to anxiety and emotional distress.
01:10From the moment we went on air with a little film of a child running to a phone box, we
01:17had
01:1850,000 attempted calls made to Childline that first night. And the demand remained that high
01:27for at least six weeks. So we had to recruit as many volunteers as we could to answer the
01:34phones. I can remember some of the calls that came in that time. And we had to open as many
01:40bases as we could so that we could find volunteers, so that we could answer the children.
01:46Childline's origins followed a television programme about a toddler who'd starved to death. A temporary
01:53helpline set up for viewers was overwhelmed by people wanting to talk, including children
01:59describing sexual abuse they'd never disclosed before. Ranson recognised that children needed a
02:05service of their own, available day and night where they could ask for help. Childline officially
02:11launched on the 30th of October 1986. The NSPCC says it has since delivered more than six million
02:19counselling sessions and its helpline model has been replicated in other countries, giving children
02:25more ways to seek help. Childline was the favoured sibling, we always knew that.
02:31And now I know why. Childline, if you'll forgive me saying so, I've gone quite weirdly spiritual this
02:39last week, I continue in my witchy ways. But Childline has supernatural powers. And it's because
02:46you go there, and you think you know what it is, you suddenly see what it is, and you're got.
02:53It's like a
02:53love spell. And it's so important that it gets hold of you. Because every single time one of those little
02:59voices comes on the end of the line, or over a web chat, something miraculous happens. And that is
03:08good people, like gorgeous Sally, like gorgeous Colin, like all of you, my gosh, this is,
03:14I knew there was a reason mum made me get on the train today. And it was to see you
03:20all,
03:20because I need to be reminded that there's good in the world. And this room is flipping full of it.
03:25But you are amazing. What you do for Childline is incredible. I've killed mum's orchids. I'm not
03:33killing Childline. We are going to keep it healthy. We're not pointing that, by the way, to the press.
03:40Don't quote that. I'm really bad with plants. But hopefully better with Childline.
03:47The issues children bring to Childline have changed over four decades. In 1986,
03:53sexual abuse accounted for 27% of calls and letters. The charity now says mental and emotional
04:01health was the biggest reason for contact in the 2025 to 2026 year, making up 33% of counselling sessions.
04:09Children have also raised concerns linked to social media, artificial intelligence,
04:15and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We all know why it's so powerful. And we all know why
04:21it's so needed. But I just felt compelled to make Child on the line because I think the vast majority
04:29of
04:29the population of this country don't really know how bad the landscape is out there for a lot of our
04:35children. If they knew half of the calls and the number of the calls in different areas, they would be
04:40absolutely sideswiped, dumbfounded by it. Childline's 40th anniversary is both a moment to remember the
04:49woman who founded it and a chance to consider what support children will need in the years ahead.
04:54The NSPCC says the service will continue with its work shaped by the concerns young people bring to
05:00counsellors. More than six million sessions mark the scale of its work, but every contact is a child
05:07looking for someone to listen. The service remains available free day and night for anyone under 19.
