Make the NSPCC one of your resolutions for 2012
It’s the start of a New Year and an opportunity to help make a fundamental difference to the lives of children and young people in Northern Ireland, whatever your skills, talent and available time.
You could become a volunteer in one of the many roles on offer at the NSPCC, including: ChildLine counselling, the Young Witness Service, fundraising, or the Independent Visiting Service.
Volunteers are also needed across Northern Ireland for the new ChildLine Schools Service, which aims to visit every primary school in the UK at least every two years to help children understand what abuse is - including bullying - how to protect themselves and how to seek help if they need it. Volunteers will be central to the delivery of the Schools Service and their role will be to present assemblies and workshops to children aged between seven and 11 years old. To volunteer for this service you will need to commit to delivering at least 10 sessions in local schools per academic year, during usual school times (9am - 3pm).
Alternatively you could help celebrate the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games by taking part in a Gold Challenge for the NSPCC. There are four different challenge options to choose from, each catering for participants of all abilities, and allowing you do your Gold Challenge in your preferred sports and distances. The charity is calling on budding local athletes to cover a distance of 2012km either by walking, running, cycling, swimming, horse riding, sailing, windsurfing, rowing or canoeing, (or by choosing several of these activities), and to complete the challenge by December 2012. www.nspcc.org.uk/goldchallenge
Catherine Nuttall, head of local fundraising in Northern Ireland, said: “There are so many ways you can help us help more children and young people in 2012. Please take some time to visit our website and check out the different range of volunteering roles. There really is something for everyone, no matter how much or little time you can spare.”
She continued: “We also have some great events taking place throughout the year. If one of your new year’s resolutions is to get fit then look no further than our HACK hiking challenge, or if you want something less physically demanding, how about coming to this year's ChildLine Titanic Ball, or taking part in the 2012 Gold Challenge?”
For further details about volunteering and all the events happening across Northern Ireland please visit the NSPCC website - www.nspcc.org.uk
