A GLASGOW man whose plans to travel the world collapsed when he learned he was to become a dad is urging people to support a vital child support service.

Eoin Carey, 36, is a volunteer counsellor at the Glasgow Childline centre, which urgently needs new recruits following a 40% dip in numbers during the pandemic.

After unexpectedly becoming a father six years ago, Eoin - who admits he had never spent much time around children before – thought his new-found skills could help him support young people. Glasgow Times:

Before becoming a dad to daughter Peggy, Eoin had made plans to travel the world, to eventually live in Australia, but before leaving Scotland he had a short-term relationship with a woman.

Shortly after Eoin left Scotland, she contacted him to say she was pregnant and wanted to have the baby and while this had not been part of his plans, Eoin decided to return to Glasgow to become a father for the first time.

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“It was a huge shock,” he admitted.

“Fatherhood was a big life change for me. It opened my eyes to lots of things, including the needs of a child as they grow and the role of the parent or carer.

“I became aware that children need a lot of attention and care. I also discovered that I really like young people and how smart, capable, thoughtful, kind and fun they are. My own daughter is growing up so fast and I wouldn’t know my life without her now, that’s for sure.”

On average a young person contacts Childline every 25 seconds and since last year’s lockdown Childline has had more than 3000 contacts from children in Scotland about their mental and emotional health.

Additional volunteers are desperately needed so the charity can continue to be there for children 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Childline Glasgow team manager Margaret Anne McKay, said: “The cost-of-living crisis, or anything else that puts pressure on families, is bound to have an impact on children.

“The level of tension can cause family relationship issues, the opportunities the young person is able to pursue can be more limited, and the anxiety around potential changes in living circumstances can be upsetting.”

While some of the calls from young people can be upsetting, volunteers say they find the role extremely rewarding and worthwhile.

Margaret Anne explains: “Volunteers feel really privileged to be at the other end of a phone call when a child has chosen to open up and speak to them.

“At the end of a shift volunteers often say, ‘Thank God I was there today for that young person’, and who knows what would have happened to that child if they hadn’t had someone to speak to.”

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Eoin agreed: “After many of the chats I’ve had with a young person they tell me they feel better and they’re so grateful to me for talking with them. It takes real bravery for them to come forward to speak about something they’ve never talked about before, so I feel privileged that they open up to me.”

Email volunteerrecruitment@nspcc.org.uk if you would like to apply.

Childline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 0800 1111 or visiting childline.org.uk.