In the height of summer, Cardiff Bay will be filled with the jovial laughs and screams of children making the most of their time off. However, tucked half a mile away on an industrial estate, volunteers give up their time to listen to children in desperate need of someone to talk to.
Despite the sometimes hard-hitting topics volunteers have to deal with, the NSPCC Cardiff base could not be warmer or more welcoming. Bright banners are pinned along the ceiling, pictures from children cover the walls and there's even a mini tuck shop with an honesty box to keep volunteers fueled throughout their shifts.
Childline has two bases in Wales, one in Prestatyn and one in Cardiff. The service is contacted by a child in need of advice once every 25 seconds. Their concerns can vary, with the most popular topics from 2021-2022 including mental or emotional health, suicidal thoughts and feelings, family relationships, self-harm, and sex, relationships and puberty.
