Volunteering wanted: Help with the Child Protection Association in Bergisch Gladbach!

Volunteering wanted: Help with the Child Protection Association in Bergisch Gladbach!

Over the last 45 years, the Children and Youth Hotline (KJT) has developed into one of the first contact points for children and young people in Germany. This hotline, which can be reached at 116 111, offers help anonymously and free of charge under the “number against grief”, Monday to Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The need for telephone support has skyrocketed, especially during the Corona period. In Bergisch Gladbach, where the KJT was launched 30 years ago by the Rhein-Berg Child Protection Association, the counselors were in great demand with over 8,000 calls in 2022, like ksta.de reported.

Fortunately, online advice has also been steadily increasing since it was introduced two years ago. But there are also dark clouds on the horizon: the number of active consultants in Rhein-Berg has fallen by almost a third. To counteract this trend, the Child Protection Association is urgently looking for new volunteers who are willing to give their time and empathy.

Training for new consultants

Working as a consultant does not require any specific previous training, but patience, empathy and communication skills are required. In order to bring those interested up to date, an information evening will take place on September 29th at 6 p.m. in the offices of the Child Protection Association. Registration is required for this.

The hotline itself has developed significantly in recent years. In addition to the challenges that counselors face on a daily basis, the most common topics raised by callers are psychological problems (60%), difficulties in friendships, and problems with schools and parents. The dangers of cyberbullying, eating disorders and dealing with sexual issues are treated expertly by the counselors, as are concerns about stressful situations at school or at home bmfsfj.de.

The path to support

The “Number Against Grief” is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and has established itself as an important part of psychosocial support for children, young people and their parents. Parents can find support with everyday problems in dealing with their children on 0800-1110550 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For less urgent concerns, you can also contact the website www.nummergegenkummer.de by email.

These measures and offers are not just limited to the Bergisch Gladbach region. The whole of Germany benefits from the over 100 advice centers that operate under the umbrella of the “Number Against Kummer e.V.” association. operate and are supported by almost 4,000 volunteers, as the overview on hilfe-in-deutschland.de shows.

Anyone who is interested in voluntary advice or would simply like more information is cordially invited to the premises of the Rhein-Berg Child Protection Association on September 29th. A personal conversation can help you develop a good knack for supporting others.