Safeguarding

Safeguarding - a guide for young people

Safeguarding means protecting children (and adults) from abuse, harm and neglect. Everyone has a right to be safe.

There are different types of abuse, and sometimes a child or young person may be experiencing (or at risk of) more than one type. If you are worried about something that is happening to you or someone you know, it is important to tell someone you trust. You can also tell us. We can help because it is our duty, which means it is part of our job to help keep you and other young people safe. This also means sometimes we need to share things you tell us to help keep you and others safe.

Here are some of the reasons we may need to contact other people:

• You ask us to
• We believe your life or someone else’s life is in danger
• You’re being hurt by someone in a position of trust who is able to hurt other children like a teacher, religious leader, sports coach, police officer or doctor
• You tell us that you’re seriously hurting another person
• You tell us about another child who’s being hurt
• We’re told we have to by law, for example for a court case
• You tell us that you or another young person has been or is being sexually abused
• If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, this is an emergency. Call 999 and ask for the Police.

If you need help to decide who to talk to, Childline can help. Childline also have a Confidentiality Promise which means they can keep most things private.