JANUARY is almost here, and along with it comes the tradition of setting yourself new challenges.

Your resolution might be to lose a little holiday weight, pick up a new hobby or give a but more time to a good cause - and if that last one sounds like you, there’s a place for you with the NSPCC.

Our charity doesn’t just rely on the public for the majority of its funding. We also rely on volunteers to help us share vital safeguarding messages to children and adults. Our Schools Service teams visit primary schools to help children identify and recognise signs of abuse and neglect and give them the confidence to speak to safe adults when they’re worried about something.

Speak Out, Stay Safe workshops are delivered to pupils in years 5 and 6 and are age appropriate. They help children recognise signs of abuse, identify a trusted adult and speak out when they feel something isn’t right. Full training is given to volunteers, with school visits planned around their schedules.

Last year our SOSS workshops reached 185,223 children in 831 schools across Yorkshire and the North East, and we want to reach even more children in 2024. Elsewhere, our Childline teams deliver around 200,000 counselling sessions every year to children and young people with a range of concerns. An estimated 23,600 of these sessions were delivered to young people in this region.

From mental health worries to concerns about bullying, abuse or neglect, they’re here for children around the clock, on the phone and online. We have a physical base here in Yorkshire, but to help us reach as many children as possible, we also have a large team of volunteers who can respond via email as part of Childline’s Virtual Base. We’re always hoping to add to our ranks and would love to hear from anyone who might be able to join the team.

Everyone who volunteers for Childline is asked to commit to four hours a week, but given extensive training to prepare for the role, with support and mentoring available.

If you’d prefer not to work with children, our volunteer fundraisers play a vital role in ensuring we can be there for young people. There are lots of ways to raise funds; maybe you could host a bake sale, a musical event or a sponsored walk, run or even a mountain trek.

Rather than submit to the ‘January Blues’ or setting an unattainable resolution, why not consider helping us to help children instead? Visit nspcc.org.uk/support-us/volunteering