Nightline (student Service) - History

History

The first Nightline was set up in 1970 at Essex University by a former director of the local Samaritans branch and the university chaplain to try to reduce the rate of student suicide. The helpline was founded on the understanding that some students would be reluctant to approach outsiders for help and would find it easier to speak to another student. The idea caught on and spread first to Imperial College in London in 1971, and then to many other universities around the UK. During the early 1980s, individual Nightlines started to work together to share skills and ideas, such as publicity, recruitment and training concepts. The umbrella organization National Nightline was founded in 1991 as a formal structure for this work, and represents all affiliated organizations, but has no authority over them. It became a registered charity in early 2006. It subsequently adopted the operating name of Nightline Association.

The Nightline Association also hosts an annual conference of member Nightlines every year. Conferences form a primary method of communication within the Nightline Association, as a means of disseminating vital information and ideas - examples include Lancaster Nightline's conference on training issues (2006) or the Oxford Nightline conferences on abusive callers (2005, 2006, 2007).

Nightline's 40th birthday celebratory conference and awards ceremony was held at the place of its origin Essex University in March 2010. The conference and awards ceremonies are held at different Nightline universities on an annual basis and are organised by an Executive Officer from the hosting university.