NSPCC CHILD’S VOICE APPEAL GETS EXTRA CHRISTMAS PUSH FROM MICROSOFT

15% of Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista Microsoft Store Sales to be donated to NSPCC during peak buying period

December 1, 2008 - The NSPCC and Microsoft today announce a Christmas initiative to give the NSPCC’s Child's Voice Appeal an extra fundraising push to increase the number of calls that can be answered by ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline. From today until the New Year, 15% of Microsoft Windows Vista or Office 2007 sales purchased through the Microsoft Store (www.microsoft.com/uk/nspcc) will be automatically donated to the NSPCC appeal.

Tim Hunter, Deputy Director of Fundraising at the NSPCC, said: “When a vulnerable child is in distress, the call an adult makes to the NSPCC Helpline could be a significant point in the child’s life. Tragically – we can not deal with every call just because of lack of funds. Even more unfortunately, a child may gain the courage to call ChildLine, only to not be able to get through. The money from this Christmas initiative will go towards our Child’s Voice Appeal which aims to let no child’s voice go unheard and to allow us to respond fully to every cry for help.”

Matthew Bishop, Business Marketing Officer, Microsoft UK, said: “We want to do everything we can to help the NSPCC reach its target, so if you are already thinking of upgrading your software in the run up to Christmas then this is a great way to do it. It’s an unlimited offer, between now and the New Year, so each person who takes it up really will make a difference.”

This donation marks another step in a long standing relationship between NSPCC and Microsoft which stretches over more than 14 years.

The Child’s Voice Appeal is a key part of meeting NSPCC’s targets of answering 500,000 more calls to ChildLine every year, and answering 18,000 more calls to the NSPCC Helpline by 2011. By then the NSPCC will also have expanded its online service so that ChildLine can reach out to children via the internet. With 98 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds accessing the internet regularly, it's vital that this is made available and Microsoft’s support has been critical in making this possible.

NSPCC

The NSPCC’s purpose is to end cruelty to children. Its vision is of a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. We seek to achieve cultural, social and political change – influencing legislation, policy, practice, attitudes and behaviours for the benefit of children and young people. For more information visit www.nspcc.org.uk .

NSPCC Child’s Voice Appeal

The NSPCC Child Protection Helpline gets around 95,000 calls a year. This equates to eleven an hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Child’s Voice Appeal will raise money for this service as well as the NSPCC’s free ChildLine service – 0800 1111 – which last year had 2.5m calls with 900,000 of these being unanswered. ChildLine will be increasing its call centres to 15 next year and will need to increase its volunteer counselling force from 1200 to nearly 1800 to try and answer every call.

Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.