ISPCC Childline in partnership with the Vodafone Ireland Foundation launches the Headbomz Summer Calendar

Filled with fun activities and tips for each day of the summer, the Headbomz ‘Let’s Talk Summer’ calendar is the perfect way to help keep children’s summers Headbomz-free!

With the school summer holidays kicking off, children and their carers are getting excited about the endless possibilities that this time of year brings. No uniform, no homework, weeks of freedom!

With all that free time and perhaps not seeing school friends and teachers, summer can be a lonely and sometimes overwhelming time for some. Thoughts and worries can build up to create what ISPCC Childline and the Vodafone Ireland Foundation call ‘Headbomz’.

To help keep children’s summers Headbomz-free, the Vodafone Ireland Foundation and ISPCC Childline have created the ‘Let’s Talk Summer’ Headbomz calendar. It’s filled with fun activities for children to enjoy – from making mouth-popping yummy smoothies, to becoming a hotshot reporter, to brightening up someone’s day and lots more besides.

The Headbomz ‘Let’s Talk Summer’ calendar provides entertainment ideas for each and every day of the summer holidays while encouraging children to share what’s on their mind – because Talking Makes Us Stronger. The campaign is designed to drive awareness of the Childline service and to build children’s resilience through normalising talking about their challenges and concerns.
The calendar is available for FREE at Vodafone stores nationwide or online at www.childline.ie.

John Church, Chief Executive ISPCC, said: “ISPCC Childline is delighted to offer children and families lots of fun activities for them to try and things to talk about to help keep Headbomz at bay this summer. The Headbomz campaign gives children the language to talk with a trusted adult or friend about what’s on their mind and how they’re really feeling – because, as we all know, Talking Makes Us Stronger.

“Any child or young person up to the age of 18 in Ireland can contact Childline at any time to talk about any issue which may be on their mind. Childline listens, supports and empowers children and young people. We are so grateful for the committed support of the Vodafone Ireland Foundation, which helps ensure Childline is always there to listen.

Natalie Hodgess, Vodafone Ireland Foundation Manager at Vodafone Ireland said:
“The summer break from school is an exciting time for all the family but the change of routine can be difficult for children. The aim of this phase of the campaign and the Let’s Talk Summer calendar is not only to share some fun activities that all the family can enjoy together over the summer months but to reassure children that ‘Headbomz’ are normal and that Talking Makes Us Stronger.
“The Vodafone Ireland Foundation is committed to supporting the great work that ISPCC Childline does on a daily basis across Ireland and we are delighted to help drive an initiative as important as this among children, parents, guardians and carers nationwide this summer.”

As Ireland’s 24-hour national listening service for all children in Ireland, Childline is there for children when they need support or want to talk about their worries or concerns. Since launching two years ago, Headbomz has been successful in achieving awareness and engagement with the Childline service, which children and young people can contact for free at any time by calling 1800 66 66 66 (24 hours), chatting online at Childline.ie (10am – 4am), or texting to 50101 (10am – 4am).
To help keep Headbomz at bay this summer, pick up a ‘Let’s Talk Summer’ Headbomz calendar for FREE at your local Vodafone store or online at www.childline.ie.
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About Vodafone Group
Vodafone Group is one of the world’s leading telecoms and technology service providers. We have extensive experience in connectivity, convergence and the Internet of Things, as well as championing mobile financial services and digital transformation in emerging markets.
Vodafone Group has mobile operations in 25 countries, partners with mobile networks in 41 more, and fixed broadband operations in 19 markets. As of 31 March 2019, Vodafone Group had approximately 650 million mobile customers, 19 million fixed broadband customers and 14 million TV customers, including all of the customers in Vodafone’s joint ventures and associates. For more information, please visit: www.vodafone.com.

About The Vodafone Ireland Foundation:
The Vodafone Ireland Foundation (VIF) was established in 2003 to help support Irish charities to respond to the needs in Irish society. It is the first Foundation of its kind in Ireland. It is among 27 Vodafone Foundations around the world (http://www.vodafonefoundation.org) and is part of Vodafone’s commitment to be a responsible global citizen and member of society. To date the Vodafone Ireland Foundation has committed over €9m in funding to the sector.

About Childline
Childline is Ireland’s only 24-hour active listening service for children and young people. It is free, non-judgmental and confidential and can be contacted by any child or young person up to the age of 18. Childline can be contacted by calling 1800 66 66 66 (24 hours a day), texting to 50101 (10am – 4am daily), or chatting online at Childline.ie (10am – 4am daily). For more information, see Childline.ie.