MPs in Yorkshire and Humberside call on Health Secretary to fund Childline

Photo Credit - Childline

MPs in Yorkshire and Humberside have supported the NSPCC’s calls for the government to increase its funding for Childline.

The 16 MPs from the region have signed an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, backing the child protection charity’s Are You There? campaign.

A total of 130 MPs and peers have signed the open letter after the helpline said it saw a rise in demand from children struggling with suicidal thoughts.

The MPs and the NSPCC are asking that a slice of a £300 million pledge set out in the recently-published Government green paper Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision be used to fund the service.

The letter to the health minister read: “Services like the NSPCC’s Childline are now on the front line of mental health support for young people. 

“Last year one in three Childline counselling sessions were about mental health and emotional wellbeing. The majority of these took place outside school hours – many in the middle of the night.”

More from Local and National News

Listener Club

Get more with the Listener Club!

  • Alim OnAir Alim OnAir

    Have you a question about the religious, cultural or tradition aspect of Islam? Then join Hazrat Maulana Fazal Dad in the weekly show every Friday between 8-9pm.

  • Legal Show Legal Show

    Once a fortnight we dedicate a show to discussing legal issues and family / matrimonial law in particular. Alternate Friday mornings between 9am-11pm.

  • Bhangra Nights Bhangra Nights

    Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm

  • The Golden Era The Golden Era

    The golden era of Bollywood celebrated in this weekly show full of classics taking you back in time. Every Sunday between 5pm - 7pm