A MOTHER-OF-TWO is urging for more volunteers to help the NSPCC's pioneering ChildLine campaign visit every primary school in the North-East and North Yorkshire.
Michelle Povey, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, made her appeal as the charity released a survey showing it’s not just children who benefit - but the volunteers themselves.
It found 77 per cent of volunteers experience an increase in self-confidence, while 65 per cent say they’ve had an increase in their self esteem and 55 per cent an increase in their emotional well being.
The findings are announced by ChildLine as it launches its New Year’s Resolution campaign, which is appealing for members of the public across the region to offer their time to support children and young people in their community through its ChildLine Schools Service.
It aims to be able to visit every primary school once every two years by 2016 to talk to children agend nine to 11 about abuse and how they can protect themselves.
On Teesside ChildLine currently has 15 volunteers for the pioneering project - but needs a further 25 volunteers, who can spend up to half a day a week with children, and use a series of age-appropriate assemblies and interactive workshops.
Married Michelle Povey, 39, has been a volunteer for the service for the last 18 months.
She said: “I was studying for a degree part time in youth and child studies when I saw this opportunity to volunteer on the university website.
"I am loving everything about it. I can’t pretend that it’s not challenging but if we can equip even just one child with what’s necessary to speak out about the abuse they may be suffering, then it is all worth it. I can’t think of a better reason to get involved.”
The Service has already visited 5,895 children in 72 schools across Teesside, and 99 per cent of schools across the UK who provided feedback in 2012/13 claimed that their pupils’ knowledge of child abuse and bullying was enhanced as a result.
For further information and details of how to apply, go to www.nspcc.org.uk/childlinevolunteer
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