To make sure we can support you and keep all our staff and volunteers safe from the coronavirus, we’ve had to change how we work slightly.

For now:

• You can have a 1-2-1 chat Monday to Friday from 7.30am -10:30pm and Saturday to Sunday 9am -10.30pm.
• You can call us for free on 0800 1111 from 7.30am–3:30am on weekdays and 9am - 3.30am on weekends.

Our counsellors won’t be available after 3.30am, but you can send an email using your Childline account any time and you’ll usually get a reply within 24 hours. In an emergency, you should always call 999.

If you join the queue for a chat before 10:30pm, you’ll still be answered by a counsellor, even if it’s after 10:30pm.

There are still lots of ways to get support from Childline:

• use the message boards to talk to other children and young people
• send a message to a counsellor from your locker
• find new ways to cope using the Calm Zone
• get advice on getting to sleep.

Sending a message is free, and we’ll usually reply within a day. Writing to a counsellor can give you the space to say what you want and ask questions.

You can say as much or as little as you feel able to. If you’re not sure what to write, you could start by including:

• a little about yourself, like your name and how old you are
• what’s been happening or what’s on your mind, and how it makes you feel
• any questions you might have, and what you’d like to happen in the future
• a title that says what you’d like to talk about.

You don’t need to write a lot if you don’t want to, but it can help to include all the information the counsellor might need to know – if a counsellor needs to ask for more information, it can take longer to get help.

Writing an email can help you to get out your feelings, don’t forget you can use your mood journal to record how you’re feeling any time.

If you need support tonight, there are other organisations that can help:

Shout – You can text Shout for support on 85258

The Mix – Support for anyone under 25

In an emergency, you should always speak to an adult you trust or call 999.