€16,000 was raised to support Childline at Christmas by colleagues and customers of United Drug, LloydsPharmacy, Median Healthcare and TCP Homecare. 

The Irish Businesses, owned by the PHOENIX Group, Europe’s leading healthcare provider, include United Drug, LloydsPharmacy, TCP Homecare and Median Healthcare. The group were delighted to announce their official partnership with the ISPCC last September. From here, they formed a group charity committee to roll out their Christmas initiatives and raise much needed funds to support the charity and their overall aim of providing children with the facilities to listen to them, empower them, strengthen their resilience, and enable them to live their best possible lives.

ISPCC was chosen as the new charity partner for the Irish Healthcare Group after a companywide vote and a period of research and consultation with staff. The partnership came into effect at the end of September.  This ISPCC partnership further highlights how the group is committed to looking after all customers regardless of age, gender, or location.

Christmas Cards Competition and Donation Days

In 2021, Childline experienced a 28% increase in calls from Children who were “Anxious and Isolated” during the 3-day Christmas period. It also takes €12,000 to run Childline for just one day so the overall goal for the group charity committee was to raise €12,000 to support Childline on Christmas Day.

To reach this goal, the group fundraised by selling Christmas Cards designed by the children of staff across the four businesses, United Drug, LloydsPharmacy, TCP Homecare and Median Healthcare. They had a heartening response from the children of their colleagues to the ISPCC Christmas card competition, with 90 entries. Ten fabulous festive designs were transformed into Christmas cards and sold as a pack of 10, priced at €10.

In addition to this, they hosted an ISPCC Donation Day in each business consisting of smaller fun events like raffles, Christmas jumper competitions, and a coffee morning.

Smashed their target of €12,000

The group were absolutely thrilled to announce that they had smashed their target for the ISPCC Childline Christmas initiative. With a target of €12,000, they raised a whopping €16,000 to support Childline this Christmas.

CEO Paul Reilly commented: "A special thank you to all our colleagues, customers and suppliers for their generosity, time and fundraising efforts. The Charity Programme gives our colleagues and customers the chance to support a cause that is close to their hearts and helps to make a difference to the local communities where we work and live."

Your kindness and generosity helped Childline to continue to provide the safe space where every child and young person who wants to connect with Childline, can and where they can access the support that’s right for them in the way they feel most comfortable, especially at Christmas time.

Almost 600 calls, texts and online messages were answered by Childline over Christmas

Almost 600 calls, texts and online messages were answered by Childline, over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and St Stephens Day.  Over 70 volunteers were involved in operating the support line over the Christmas period.

The volunteers said that, “Many children and young people in Ireland felt lonely, stressed, and upset this Christmas. Their feelings were exacerbated as they saw families and friends celebrating together and it’s not like that for them. They turned to Childline for a listening ear and a supportive voice to hear them.”

On behalf of all the children and young people who Childline supports, the ISPCC thanked the group and everyone who participated and supported the Christmas Campaigns across the four businesses which helped to keep the service there 24 hours a day on Christmas Day.