Get Connected, the helpline for children and young people under 25, is calling for donations from the public after flooding caused widespread damage to its London headquarters over the weekend.

According to a statement from the charity, “raw sewerage flooded all three floors of the building on Sunday 15th March, collapsing the ceiling of the help room and rendering vital equipment and resources useless.”

The charity is now calling on the public for donations to help continue the running of a temporary helpline which was set up on Monday, within 24 hours of the flood. Under normal circumstances, the Get Connected helpline is operated by around 100 volunteers who help ‘more than 250,000 children and young people’ who get in touch each year.

Speaking to Civil Society News, the charity's press officer said that while there is no exact target amount for the appeal, any and all donations would be welcomed. So far £1,000 have been raised. 

Jessica Taplin, chief executive of Get Connected, said: “We do have insurance for our building and some equipment, but we've lost other costly helpline-related equipment and training materials which need replacing before we can get this organised.

“We need funds in the interim to set up new systems, ensuring we can continue to operate our lifeline service for vulnerable young people while we wait to gain access to our helpline centre again.”

Public funds will also go towards the continued roll-out of the charity’s remote volunteering pilot, which launched earlier in the year, but is now “more vital than ever” in helping cope with demand.