Hi-tech help for children at risk

Children suffering abuse will soon be able to contact the NSPCC's ChildLine via text messages and the internet, according to the BBC.

"The NSPCC hopes to reach more at-risk children by making use of the technology that youngsters are comfortable and familiar with.

... Although thousands of people contact the NSPCC via ChildLine every day the organisation still struggles to answer every call. Currently about 67% of calls get answered and just 40% of children who need counselling receive it.

"At the moment, we've got a real problem about not being able to reach every child who wants help," said Dame Mary Marsh, director and chief executive of the NSPCC which took over ChildLine in 2006.

"The rate that children can get through is just not good enough, so part of the process is to give different channels of access so there is going to be some way they can get some help," she said.

emily | 8:19 AM | New SMS Services |
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