Children like Tommy need your help

For children like Tommy, getting through to ChildLine could be the difference between life and death.

"I hate school, I get sick in the morning...I'm so scared," said Tommy through his sobs. The nine-year-old was outside his home calling ChildLine. "I can't go home. I can't let my mum see my torn shirt and grazes." Tommy had just jumped off the school bus where other children on the bus had been teasing him - snatching his bag, throwing things at him, thumping him on the head and in the chest, and calling him names.

"It's the same when I get to school," he told a ChildLine counsellor. "They're all horrible to me - no one likes me. I don't know why. They trip me up in the playground on purpose, and one boy keeps punching me in the back.

"I haven't got any friends. It's so bad I just wish I could kill myself."

Tommy had already been moved from one school because of bullying - only to encounter the same problem at his new school. He said he couldn't go home and tell his mum because she just says "I should stand up for myself."

He, his sister and his mum had had to move because his dad used to beat his mum up. Tommy said that he also used to be bullied at his old school and while he was talking to the ChildLine counsellor, he told her that he was in touch with the school nurse at his new school because he sometimes wet the bed.

Tommy said he wanted to tell the nurse his full story so ChildLine contacted her, who in turn contacted Tommy in the phone box.

The nurse later talked to Tommy's mother about how unhappy he was, and also talked to his class teacher about some of the pressures Tommy was under supervision at home and at school. His teacher asked one of the older boys to keep an eye on Tommy both on the school bus and in the playground. Tommy called back later to say things were much better now. A new boy had joined the school and he and Tommy had become friends.

Everyday 4,500 children call ChildLine and around 2,000 can't get through. By downloading Gringtones and supporting ChildLine you will help us to be there for every child, the first time they call.

"When children cannot get through, they feel even more alone and without hope. Our dream is to answer all the children the first time they call. Thank you for downloading a Gringtone and supporting ChildLine" Esther Rantzen

Download a Gringtone now and help children like Tommy.

Find out more about ChildLine's vital work with children and young people.

If you need to talk to someone, you can call ChildLine for free on 0800 1111.

ChildLine, a service of NSPCC, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Registered charity number 216401.
NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.