Child Protection
Childline: tel 0800 1111 ir
www.childline.org.uk|
Kidscape: 02077 303300/ 08451 205204 (local rate number)
www.nspcc.org.uk|
or tel 0808 800 5000
When I was younger I was sexually abused by my stepdad. It's not happening anymore. I haven't been able to tell my mum and I'm bottling everything up and don't know what to do. Please help.
You don't say how old you are now or how old you were when your stepfather sexually abused you. Nevertheless I need to reassure you that regardless of your age, this was wrong and should not have happened to you. If you can't bring yourself to tell your mum, can you think of someone else that you can trust? This might be another member of the family, your teacher, the school health nurse or your doctor. If you don't feel able to talk to anyone directly then you can ring Childline. It is important that you talk to someone for your own sake and also for any other children that your step dad may be in contact with.
I saw my friend being hit by his step-dad. He was thrown into a door then his step-dad was hitting him so hard my friend was crying. He doesn't want to go into care but where can he get help?
Your friend needs help to stop this abuse from happening. Childline would be able to offer him some advice and tell him how to get the help that he needs. He may also need to see a doctor, especially if he has been injured in any way. He can also contact the local social services department himself. Social workers frequently work with parents who are harming their children and try hard to keep families together wherever possible. Children are not taken into care unless there are absolutely no other alternatives for keeping them safe. This mustn't continue and I understand how distressing this must be for you. If your friend isn't able to contact anyone himself, you can contact a trusted adult and tell them what you have seen and show them this reply.
My mum and dad are always hitting me. I don't do anything wrong but my dad kicks, punches and swears at me. I don't want to get them in trouble I just want them to stop. Please help.
This must stop. Your parents need to know that this behaviour is totally unacceptable and is harming you both physically and emotionally. You must tell someone otherwise this will probably continue. Is there an adult that you can trust? Otherwise please ring Childline, you need some help with this.
Internet Pest
I am worried about someone who keeps chatting to me on-line. He keeps asking me really personal questions and I keep ignoring him but he won't stop talking to me. He has asked me for pictures. It's really getting me down because I don't know what to do.
When you're asked for a screen name to use in a chat room use a nickname never your real name, and don't give out your home, school or email address, your phone number, any photo's of yourself or your parents credit card details. NEVER meet anyone you've been chatting to on the internet without a parent or guardians permission and even then make sure you take an adult with you. If you get an email containing rude or unpleasant things, you MUST tell a responsible adult straight away and DON'T reply to it. Never agree to chat in a private chat room with someone unless you already know them face-to-face, in real life. Remember, people may not be who they say they are.