The founder of ChildLine, Dame Esther Rantzen, visited volunteers at ChildLine’s new London home in Shoreditch, to thank volunteers for their efforts.

Earlier this year the children’s charity moved from its previous base near Liverpool Street, to the NSPCC’s head office in Curtain Road.

Esther spent time viewing the counselling room where volunteers answer contacts from children all across the UK. She then presented volunteers with certificates to recognise their length of service.

Volunteers received awards for reaching their 40 shifts annual target early, along with long service awards for those who had clocked up 2,000 hours and 1,000 hours.

Last year ChildLine carried out a total of 286,812 counselling sessions. The top three concerns children called about were family relationships, low self-esteem/unhappiness and abuse.

Helen Beattie, ChildLine area manager said: “It’s only thanks to the hard work and dedication of all our volunteers that we’re able to be there for children and young people when they need us.”