PUPILS from Musselburgh Grammar School visited the Scottish Parliament last week to find out more about improvements to a children's counselling service.
The event was hosted by Green Party MSP Robin Harper and allowed the county youngsters - and pupils from other schools (pictured above) - to find out more about the new online service being provided by ChildLine.
The young people at the event were invited to become 'ChildLine champions', helping the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) spread the word about the online service to their friends.
Speaking of his involvement, Mr Harper said: "I am delighted to be hosting this event to demonstrate ChildLine's new online service.
"It will allow more children to access support and information when they need it through a website as well as the telephone. Many congratulations to the NSPCC for expanding this essential service." ChildLine provides a vital telephone counselling service which has helped many young people to survive very difficult periods of their lives.
Young people can still contact ChildLine on 0800 1111, but are now able express their concerns via email, posting a message on a message board, and one-to-one online counselling.
They can also use a range of creative tools to express their feelings.
These include a 'mood tracker', games, and a creative area where they can draw pictures and write poems about their worries.
Last year, more than 27,000 children and young people from across the UK were counselled by a ChildLine in Scotland volunteer counsellor.
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