Get Connected, the free UK helpline dedicated to helping
under 25s with any issue, has this week been awarded a grant from Nesta’s
Centre for Social Action Innovation Fund, which is run in partnership with the
Cabinet Office. The grant will enable Get Connected to expand their volunteer
base across the country. More than 1,000 organisations applied for funding,
with less than 30 being successfully selected and approved by the Minster for
Civil Society.
The grant, earmarked for the charity’s Digital Connectors
project, will support the charity to harness technology to help even more
children and young people in crisis every year. Currently operating from one
helpline centre in London with support from almost 100 trained volunteers, the
grant will allow Get Connected to enlist volunteers around the country to
answer incoming pleas for help through web chat and SMS.
Demand for Get Connected’s helpline service is growing, but
through digital social action, by March 2016 Get Connected will mobilise
people's energy and talents to help up to 35,000 vulnerable children and young
people a year through their helpline and a further 250,000 via their website
and app.
Jessica Taplin, CEO at Get Connected, says: “This grant is amazing and well deserved
recognition of the expertise and knowledge Get Connected brings to the sector.
Utilising digital technology for social action will empower the service, expand
our reach and deliver a cost effective way of supporting every greater numbers
of children and young people.”
Mandeep Hothi, Senior Programme Manager at Nesta, says: “We are delighted to be supporting Get
Connected. Their professionalism and commitment to supporting young people has
consistently impressed. As well as helping Get Connected to grow, we hope this
work demonstrates the potential of digital social action to other
organisations.”
Get Connected has been proudly supported by Dixon’s
Carphone, previously Carphone Warehouse, since 2001. Andrew Harrison, Deputy Group Chief Executive, says: “This grant will enable the charity to
scale like never before and help more children and young people across the UK.
Brilliant news.”
For more information visit www.getconnected.org.uk
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS: For more information or accompanying images
please contact Catherine Sweet, Marketing & Communications Manager at Get Connected: 020 7009 2516 / catherine sweet@getconnected.org.uk
·
Get Connected is the free, confidential & multi-issue national
helpline service supporting vulnerable young people under 25 all over the UK. Last year 180,378 young people accessed our services.
·
Get
Connected is registered charity number 1081840 and depends entirely on
voluntary donations. Get Connected is a key partner of Child Helpline International, a global network of 173 child helplines in 142 countries. Helpline information:
Call FREE: 0808 808 4994 (1pm-11pm daily)
Text for FREE help 80849
Email: help@getconnected.org.uk
Web chat: www.getconnected.org.uk
(1pm-11pm daily)
WebHelp 24/7: www.getconnected.org.uk
Free Get Connected App available for Android and iOS
Distributed by Pressat
T. 0207 009 2500Additional Contact(s):
Catherine Sweet, Marketing and Communications Manager
