For Children and Young People

You have a right to be looked after and kept safe by the adults you live with - whether you live with your parents, grandparents, other family relatives or foster carers. However, help is at hand if your home life isn't safe and loving.

Are any of these things happening to you?

• Not getting enough food to eat.
• Not going to school.
• Having to wear dirty clothes and not being able to keep clean.
• Being hit, slapped, punched, kicked, burnt or otherwise hurt by an adult.
• Being touched in a way you don't like.
• Being made to watch films or read magazines that make you feel uncomfortable.
• Being shouted at, criticised, humiliated or ignored by an adult you live with.
• Being left alone for long periods because the adult you live with is ill, sick or hungover.
• Having to do things for yourself, your brother or sister or your parent, such as make meals, because the adult you live with is ill, sick or hungover.

If any of these things are happening to you, you may feel worried, angry or scared – especially if you have no-one to talk to about how you are feeling.

It is important that you tell someone what things are like for you at home.

Maybe you can speak to a teacher you like or a relative you get on well with. You can also tell your doctor or a police officer, or contact Children and Families Service on 01856873535 and ask for extension 2680.

Telling someone about what is happening at home can be very scary, especially if you have been told to keep it a secret. You can call ChildLine for free on 0800 1111. You don’t have to give your name and the number will not show up on your ‘phone, so no-one will know that you have called. The person you tell will believe what you say and will try to make things better for you.

Childline "app" helps teenagers say "no" to sexting

An anti-sexting app from Childline is using humour to help teenagers deal with unwanted requests for sexual images of themselves.

The free "Zipit" app offers young people a gallery of images and animations called GIFs they can send in response to requests for sexual pictures and to deal with difficult sexting situations, and is available to download from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.

You can also find more information on keeping safe on the Childline, YoungScot and Safeguarding in Sport websites. You can find links to these website in the 'Related Sites' section of this page.