Supporting children and young people

If you are in immediate danger call 999 or 999BSL.

If you can’t speak, cough or tap the handset then press 55 on your phone – the police will know it’s an emergency)

For 24/7 advice call the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 2000 247.

How we can help children and young people

1-2-1 Mentoring – we provide a safe, private and non-judgmental space for 7 – 25-year-olds affected by domestic abuse to explore their experiences and build trust and confidence.
1-2-1 and group support programmes for adolescents with lived experience of domestic abuse. The programmes help to build resilience, harness their strengths and enable them to meet life’s challenges.
Family support sessions – we offer two programmes. One for primary school-aged children and their non-abusive parent to process their experiences and recover together. The other is for families experiencing adolescent-to-parent/carer violence. Each programme offers holistic support in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
Healthy relationship workshops for schools – interactive workshops that help young people to explore healthy relationships. We cover signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent, the dangers and dynamics of grooming and the laws and support available to help them.

Children do not witness abuse, they experience it

1 in 7 under 18s will have lived with domestic abuse at some point in their childhood (NSPCC)
16 to 19-year-olds are 40% more likely to experience a toxic relationship than 20 – 24-year-olds (Crime Survey for England and Wales)
Emotional abuse is the most common abuse type currently experienced by young people (72%), followed by jealous and controlling behaviours (68%) and physical abuse (57%) (SafeLives)
9 in 10 young people have talked to a friend to try and help them with a toxic or unhealthy relationship, but 83% said self-doubt would stop them from talking to a friend (SafeLives)

We've helped hundreds of children

Last year we helped 1561 adults and 393 children to regain control of their lives and go from surviving to thriving.

We are here to support families, and young people experiencing their early intimate relationships navigate their experiences of domestic abuse.

1561

adults

supported

393

children

supported

Do you need help?

If someone in your family, or a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner, is frightening, intimidating or hurting you, emotionally or physically, you can get help.

If they are calling you names, regularly shouting at you, and making you do things that make you feel uncomfortable – those are all signs that something is not ok.

We are here for you.

If you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to us, a trusted person may be able to help you.

This might be:

A teacher
A parent, guardian or carer (if they’re not the abusive person)
A family friend or neighbour you know very well and trust
A nurse or doctor
A police officer

You can also call Childline‘s free, private, and confidential helpline on 0800 1111 about anything, big or small, and not just domestic abuse.

Call our free helpline for advice

0800 917 9948

For non-emergency support.Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 09:30–11:30am, 12:30–2:30pm
Thursday and Friday 09:30–11:30am (except bank holidays)Your call is free and will not show up on itemised phone bills

Is your relationship healthy?

We’ve made it easy for you to work out if your family or romantic relationship is healthy. Learn more about what the red and green flags are, what you deserve in a relationship and how to keep yourself safe.

See if your relationship is healthy