Children's charity NSPCC is thanking volunteers who have helped them fundraise through coronavirus lockdown to continue support for children and their families.
Caroline Morgan, the charity's supporter fundraising manager, told Bristol Live that at a time of great upheaval volunteers have "powered on" to bridge a growing gap in lost income.
It has meant that vital services such as telephone helpline Childline have kept running.
Caroline said: "This Volunteers Week (June 1 – 7), I want to thank every one of our volunteers in Bristol and the surrounding area for the difference they continue to make to the children and families we support.
"Whether having to take a reluctant step back for their own safety, or increasing their volunteering hours to help our charity meet the needs of children, they have done just that.
"Our fundraising volunteers have powered on, continuing to find new ways to raise money - including virtual challenges and daily exercise fundraisers - to help fund our direct services and helplines.
"Every pound they raise helps us to protect children and prevent abuse."
Children and young people have been provided a lifeline by a dedicated team of Childline volunteers who have been given key worker stats and are on the frontline.
Their actions, supporting young people with their mental health or those who are at risk of abuse or neglect, have inspired new and younger fundraisers to get behind the NSPCC cause.
Caroline said: "We’ve seen a 20-strong team of students from the University of Bath tag-team a staggering 960km (the distance between four of the main peaks in the Alps) in response to our emergency fundraising appeal.
"When the country went into lockdown they knew there were children who would be suffering behind closed doors, from neglect, domestic abuse, or violence.
"It is acts of kindness like this that will help us through these darker times because we rely on public donations for 90% of our income.
"We’ve been hit hard during this global health crisis with cancelled or postponed mass participation events, as have other charities.
"Our Schools Service volunteers, familiar in the primary schools across Bristol, have been unable to make their usual visits delivering our free ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ programme.
"The safeguarding assemblies help children learn about the different types of abuse and how to identify trusted adults they can speak to if they have a worry or concern.
"Behind closed doors and away from school the most vulnerable children in our society have become less visible, which is why staff members from our Schools Service retrained to answer contacts to Childline, and our volunteers for the programme responded to our emergency fundraising appeal, ‘We’re still here for children’.
"So much of our work depends on the encouragement, support and expertise of our volunteers who want to ensure we are still here for children. And we are."
