A MALVERN man who has spent 35 years helping children in crises has been honoured for his service.

Colin Butler, who was present for the very first Childline shift back in 1986 alongside Dame Esther Rantzen, has taken an estimated 15,000 contacts from concerned and vulnerable children.

Mr Butler, 74, has been awarded the Pride of Birmingham Lifetime Achievement Award recognising his three decades of dedicated service. Reflecting on his time with Childline, the former deputy headteacher said: “When we started there was no internet and mobile phones were a rarity.

“We had one little base in London and that was it. Childline now has 12 centres around the UK, more children contact us on mobiles than landlines, and more children contact us via the internet than over the phone.

“The work we do now is as much about answering on line chats and emails as it is about answering phone calls.

“The nature of the contacts has changed as well. When we started Childline, the service was promoted around children’s issues of sexual and physical abuse, but children have realised they can talk to us about many things.”

Mr Butler was told of his award win by TV legend Jasper Carrott, which came as a bit of a surprise.

He added: “It was a complete shock. I was asked to do a bit of filming and I was told it was to help the NSPCC promote volunteering, and then suddenly Jasper Carrott jumped out of a bush to tell me I won the award.

“I am very proud to have won it and I think it’s recognition to all of our volunteers for the work we do.”

Mr Butler retired to Malvern with his wife Gillian 15 years ago and was chairman of Malvern and Three Counties Friends of Childline for a number of years.

New figures from Childline highlight the huge toll the pandemic has taken on young people. Since April last year the service has carried out 73,088 counselling sessions about mental or emotional health alone.

Mr Butler added: “A lot of volunteers have devoted extra time and some can answer emails from home and that has taken pressure off the service – that’s what I’ve been doing during the pandemic.

“Now it’s had time to settle in, this award gives tremendous recognition for Childline and all we do for children - it’s a constant reminder to me every time I see the award on my mantelpiece. It reminds me that I’ve been doing it for so long.”