Bethnal Green and Bow MP, Rushanara Ali, calls for more money for children’s charity NSPCC
Rushanara Ali was one of 131 MPs to demand more funding for the NSPCC's childline service. Picture: Kois Miah. - Credit: Archant
The MP for Bethnal Green and Bow is calling for more money for the NSPCC’s childline service.
NSPCC's CEO, Peter Wanless. Picture: Mike Brooke - Credit: Archant
Rushanara Ali was one of 131 MPs to sign a letter from the charity’s CEO, Peter Wanless, calling on health secretary Jeremy Hunt to increase the NSPCC’s funding.
Childline is a 24-hour confidential helpline for children who feel at risk, but children are increasingly ringing with complex mental health needs which counsellors aren’t equipped to deal with.
In the letter, Mr Wanless said: “The NSPCC urgently needs to increase both the number of available volunteers and to improve and expand the training that they receive.
“This will ensure that childline is equipped to support the more complex mental health needs children are coming to the service with. It surely deserves government support and investment.”
Last year, a third of calls to childline were about mental health, but counsellors could only respond to three quarters of them.
The service has also seen a 150 per cent increase in the number of calls from suicidal children since 2010/11. Some children have told counsellors that they are being directed to childline when other services, which only operate in normal working hours, aren’t open.
Most Read
- 1 Cyclist in hospital after lorry collision in Whitechapel
- 2 Cycle paths joined up in Aldgate creates 'safe route' through east London
- 3 Flats under construction in Hackney Wick to be knocked down and rebuilt
- 4 Section 60 in place across Tower Hamlets after Stepney stabbing
- 5 Cyclist in 'critical but stable' condition after Whitechapel lorry crash
- 6 Thunderstorms to hit London this evening warns Met Office
- 7 Whitechapel nun pens book of 12 stories to inspire selflessness in society
- 8 Mile End: Car crashes into bus stop during police pursuit
- 9 'A horrific attack': Man suffers critical head injuries from Shoreditch fight
- 10 12 stolen phones recovered after stop and search in Hackney
Mr Wanless urged the government to allocate a proportion of the £300 million which had been pledged in green paper reforms to childline, to make sure it’s equipped to meet growing demand.
The green paper announced there would be new mental health support teams which would increase the care available for pupils, including interventions. These teams would work alongside existing services, like school-based counselling.
He said: “When a child is brave enough to reach out it is absolutely vital that the immediate response and support is there for them.”
A government spokeswoman said: “Our plans will transform mental health services for children and young people, including the first ever waiting time standards for those with the most serious problems.
“This will be supported by a new workforce – larger than the entire current workforce - and backed by £300m of additional funding that will also provide significant additional support for all schools.”
