CENTRA CHILDLINE BIG BBQ IS BACK WITH A BITE!

26 May 2009


WESTLIFE’S NICKY BYRNE CALLS ON IRELAND’S BBQ ENTHUSIASTS TO GET GRILLING FOR CHILDLINE THIS SUMMER!

Westlife’s, Nicky Byrne took time out of his busy schedule today to join Centra, Ireland’s largest convenience retail group, and Childline, Ireland’s only 24-7 listening service for children, to officially launch the annual Centra Childline Big BBQ.  This is Centra’s second year involved in the initiative which aims to raise funds for Childline throughout the summer months.  Irish people are encouraged to get BBQing during June and July and raise money for a great cause.

The Childline Big BBQ raised €408,000 for Childline in 2008 and Centra are asking people all over the country to register for their BBQ pack and host their own fundraising BBQs at home, at work or even in their local sports club.  As weather forecasters predict a summer sizzler, BBQs offer the perfect way to enjoy the weather and entertain friends at the same time, while raising much-needed funds for a worthy cause.  Even with last year’s inclement summer weather a huge amount of people registered on the Centra website and in Centra stores all over the country to host their own BBQs.  

Last year’s success was also helped by the many Centra Stores throughout Ireland which hosted BBQ’s for their local communities.   Centra retailers will also be hosting their own BBQ’s this June and July across the country, so, watch out for a BBQ near you or in your local community!

Childline is Ireland’s only multi-media listening service, providing support to children throughout the country 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  In 2008, Childline received over 650,000 calls from Irish children.  Thanks to the generous support of the public, Childline answered 120,000 more calls in 2008 than the previous year. Yet, nearly 40% of calls received still go unanswered. Through its partnership with Childline, Centra hopes to continue to significantly reduce the number of unanswered calls by raising funds with the big BBQ.

Commenting at the launch, Nicky Byrne of Westlife said, “On behalf of Westlife, we have long been supporters of Childline, and I am delighted to be here today to launch the Centra Childline Big BBQ which is such a worthwhile and enjoyable initiative. To raise over €400,000 last year was a great achievement, particularly given the weather we had, and I really encourage people to help us match that amount this year by hosting their own BBQs throughout June and July”.

Des O’Mahony, Brand Communications Manager, Centra said, “We are delighted to be involved with the Childline Big BBQ once again. Following on from the massive success of last year’s event and the fantastic response from Centra customers, we are hoping that even more people will register to host BBQs throughout the summer.   It is a great way to spend time with family and friends and all the monies raised goes to a very worthwhile cause.  Our aim is to ensure that fewer calls to Childline go unanswered”.

According to CEO, ISPCC, Ashley Balbirnie, “We were delighted with the response to the Centra Big BBQ last year and hope to build on that success this summer.  This is a really important means of fundraising for us and we would encourage everyone to register for their BBQ pack and host a BBQ for Childline regardless of the weather.  We hope that by 2011 Childline has the capacity to answer every call and the amount raised through the BBQ will help us reach this goal”.

To register for your 2009 BBQ pack text CHILDLINE and your name and address to 51000, phone 1890 927 033, pick up a postcard in your local Centra store or log onto www.centra.ie for further information.