Editing Childline (section)

==History==
[[File:ChildLine logo.png|thumb|ChildLine logo used from 2007 to 2018]]
In 1986 [[Esther Rantzen]], presenter of consumer television show ''[[That's Life!]]'', suggested to the BBC that they create "Childwatch", a programme about child abuse that was screened on 30 October 1986 on [[BBC One|BBC1]], the aim being to try to detect children at risk before their lives were in danger. Viewers were asked if they would take part in the survey in an edition of ''That's Life!''. A [[helpline]] was opened after the programme so that any child currently suffering abuse could call for help. Rantzen, together with her BBC producers [[Sarah Caplin]] and Ritchie Cogan, therefore suggested they should create a helpline specifically for children in danger or distress, to be open throughout the year, 24/7, and launch it on the programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nspcc.org.uk/whatwedo/aboutChildLine/childline_history/childline_history_wda57185.html |title=Childline services |publisher=NSPCC |access-date=25 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324221533/http://www.nspcc.org.uk/whatwedo/aboutChildLine/childline_history/childline_history_wda57185.html |archive-date=24 March 2010 }}</ref> The project was made possible by a benefactor Ian Skipper who underwrote the charity for the first three years. In 1988, the charity appointed [[Valerie Howarth, Baroness Howarth of Breckland|Valerie Howarth]], a highly experienced and effective senior manager with a social services background, as CEO to lay the groundwork of the organisation and train its fleet of volunteers. Howarth remained in post for 12 years until her retirement and appointment to the [[House of Lords]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Harrison, Hereward| title = Childline - the first twelve years| date = 2000| journal = BMJ| doi=10.1136/adc.82.4.283| pmc = 1718281}}</ref>

Childline merged with the [[NSPCC|National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)]] in February 2006, and extra resources were pledged in an attempt to ensure that no child's call goes unanswered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nspcc.org.uk/whatwedo/mediacentre/pressreleases/01_february_2006_childlinejoinsnspcc_wdn33507.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320065548/http://www.nspcc.org.uk/whatwedo/mediacentre/pressreleases/01_february_2006_childlinejoinsnspcc_wdn33507.html|url-status=unfit|title=Childline Joins NSPCC|archivedate=20 March 2012|website=NSPCC}}</ref>