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| ChildLine saved my life | ChildLine saved my life |
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| Most calls are about bullyingLast week the Magazine published an article on ChildLine. In our reader's column, someone - who wishes to remain anonymous - describes how the charity helped save his life. | Most calls are about bullyingLast week the Magazine published an article on ChildLine. In our reader's column, someone - who wishes to remain anonymous - describes how the charity helped save his life. |
| It takes a lot of courage to open up to someone, especially after being beaten every day by an alcoholic father. | It takes a lot of courage to open up to someone, especially after being beaten every day by an alcoholic father. |
| My mother was too scared to do anything about it - when she did stand up to him she got a beating herself. | My mother was too scared to do anything about it - when she did stand up to him she got a beating herself. |
| When I was 10 I remember one day sheltering from the rain in a telephone box, too scared to go home, not wanting another beating or to listen to another argument. | When I was 10 I remember one day sheltering from the rain in a telephone box, too scared to go home, not wanting another beating or to listen to another argument. |
| I remember wanting to leave and run away, but knew I couldn't leave my brother behind. I then saw a poster of a little phone with a smile on it - it was advertising ChildLine. | I remember wanting to leave and run away, but knew I couldn't leave my brother behind. I then saw a poster of a little phone with a smile on it - it was advertising ChildLine. |
| ChildLine is 20 years oldI thought that even if they didn't understand, it would be a friendly voice, a comforting voice at the other end of the line. I dialled the number, but the first couple of times I tried I didn't get through and went home to face whatever was going to happen that night. | ChildLine is 20 years oldI thought that even if they didn't understand, it would be a friendly voice, a comforting voice at the other end of the line. I dialled the number, but the first couple of times I tried I didn't get through and went home to face whatever was going to happen that night. |
| I eventually got through to someone the next time it rained and I found myself standing in the same phone box. | I eventually got through to someone the next time it rained and I found myself standing in the same phone box. |
| I didn't say anything and just remember crying for about 10 minutes and then putting the phone down. | I didn't say anything and just remember crying for about 10 minutes and then putting the phone down. |
| It took a while before I spoke to them and remember being told I wasn't alone. Just to know that somehow gave me the courage to stand there and talk about how my father made me feel. | It took a while before I spoke to them and remember being told I wasn't alone. Just to know that somehow gave me the courage to stand there and talk about how my father made me feel. |
| It eventually gave me the courage - with the help of the always-friendly volunteers - to tell someone at school what I was going through at home. Also, to speak out about the bullying at school, for being the shy, quiet type who wasn't particularly good at anything. | It eventually gave me the courage - with the help of the always-friendly volunteers - to tell someone at school what I was going through at home. Also, to speak out about the bullying at school, for being the shy, quiet type who wasn't particularly good at anything. |
| Bleeding and scared | Bleeding and scared |
| I remember my teachers talking about ChildLine at an assembly, with the whole school of about 1,200 kids present. They said it was to help children who were being bullied or hit at home. Also, if you just needed to talk to someone about an issue you were facing, but didn't want to talk to one of the teachers. | I remember my teachers talking about ChildLine at an assembly, with the whole school of about 1,200 kids present. They said it was to help children who were being bullied or hit at home. Also, if you just needed to talk to someone about an issue you were facing, but didn't want to talk to one of the teachers. |
| I was 14 when I finally had enough courage to do something about my home life. It was after one particularly bad incident which left my mum and brother in the corner of the living room bleeding, bruised and scared. | I was 14 when I finally had enough courage to do something about my home life. It was after one particularly bad incident which left my mum and brother in the corner of the living room bleeding, bruised and scared. |
| I told my father he had no right to hit us anymore and if he did I would call the police I stood up to my father and told him what I thought about him and his actions over the past five years. I told him the way things were going to be from now on. I told him he had no right to hit us anymore and if he did I would call the police. I told him to leave which, after trying to hit me and shout at me, he did. | I told my father he had no right to hit us anymore and if he did I would call the police I stood up to my father and told him what I thought about him and his actions over the past five years. I told him the way things were going to be from now on. I told him he had no right to hit us anymore and if he did I would call the police. I told him to leave which, after trying to hit me and shout at me, he did. |
| ChildLine were even there for me through the divorce and custody battle that followed. | ChildLine were even there for me through the divorce and custody battle that followed. |
| I'm now a 28-year-old guy. I don't speak to my father now and haven't done for 12 years. My mother and brother died a few years later. | I'm now a 28-year-old guy. I don't speak to my father now and haven't done for 12 years. My mother and brother died a few years later. |
| I believe if it wasn't for the help that I received from ChildLine then I would not be sitting here now, writing about this with my two-year-old son playing at my feet. | I believe if it wasn't for the help that I received from ChildLine then I would not be sitting here now, writing about this with my two-year-old son playing at my feet. |
| ChildLine was and still is a lifeline for many children. I hope that my son never needs to call them. If he does then I hope there will be someone there to help him they way they helped me. | ChildLine was and still is a lifeline for many children. I hope that my son never needs to call them. If he does then I hope there will be someone there to help him they way they helped me. |
| Add your comments using the form below. | Add your comments using the form below. |
| This story has moved me to tears. What a dreadful thing to live through as a child, and what courage it took, to stand up to such a bully. Thank God for ChildLine, and the bravery shown by a schoolboy. Your Mum would have been a very proud grandmother of your little boy.Marie, Bath | |