CHILDREN in Oxfordshire can now get professional emotional support online following the launch of a counselling chat service.

Support workers and counsellors from charity Clean Slate will man an online service, as well as phone lines and scheduled visits.

Young people can use the website to get instant, free and anonymous emotional support.

The charity, based in Upper Heyford, near Bicester, helps victims of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, as well as supporting people through grief and divorce. Support worker Noel Drummey said: “We’re finding a lot of people couldn’t get to us for meetings and our staff found it difficult to get across the county.

“An online service will be a lot more viable and less expensive.”

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There is now a pop-up window that invites visitors to the website to talk to a staff member.

Anyone can use the new chat service, but it is aimed at getting more children asking for help.

Mr Drummey said he hoped boys would find the new service particularly helpful: “With boys the confidence isn’t there to speak to people face-to-face.

“Our biggest barrier is making them speak out. With an online service you can start building their confidence and give them the tools they need to deal with what’s happening to them.

“It helps them know they are not alone. Online services are sometimes easier than the phone.

“It means for those in abusive families they can talk to us without anyone knowing and it can be anonymous if they want.”

The charity has for specific sub-groups, for men, women, boys and girls and gets referrals from the police, doctors and social services.

It is working with more than 280 clients across the county. At the moment the chat service is not always manned.

If people visit outside working hours they can leave a message to arrange a time for a phone call or online conversation.

Mr Drummey said: “We’re working towards making it a 24-hour service. At the moment it’s for five days a week between 8am and 2pm, and 4pm to 9pm. We want to get the service running at the weekends for children.”

Visit cleanslate.org.uk