The festive season is now well underway, but there are lots of things that will be very different this year. With everything that’s going on, it’s important to make sure children are kept safe both online and in person.
It’s not always easy to know how to spot the warning signs of abuse in both adults and children, or to know how to start difficult conversations.
But as children spend more time either online or offline away from adults who protect them, it’s vital to know how to keep them safe.
Learn how to keep children safe
To help families, we’ve made 12 short films that aim to inform parents, carers and professionals about the risks of child sexual abuse, how to prevent harm from happening in the first place, and where to get help if something has already happened.
The films cover topics such as ‘Understanding child sexual abuse’, ‘The effects of sexual abuse on children’, ‘Why children don’t tell about abuse’ and ‘What to do if you suspect abuse’. There is also information on the warning signs of abuse in both children and adults, and how to make a family safety plan.
You can watch the films on our Parents Protect website now and share this article with your friends, family and colleagues, and also on social media so that as many people as possible know what they can do to keep children safe.
Stop It Now! helpline reaches more people than ever during lockdown
Since the start of the year, we've seen record numbers contact our helpline and have continued to support parents worried about a child or young person's behaviour, as well as adults concerned about themselves and other adults by staying open during this challenging time. Here is why it's important:
- Around 1 in 6 children, under the age of 16, will experience a form of sexual abuse. Many of these children feel unable to tell anyone what has happened to them, as they feel this abuse is their fault or they don’t realise that what is happening to them is not normal.
- While most abuse is committed by adults, as much as one third is committed by people under the age of 18.
- Most children who are abused, are abused by people they know, trust and love.
Talk to us if you’re worried about child sexual abuse
Our confidential child sexual abuse prevention helpline (0808 1000 900) is available for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse. Callers do not need to give identifying information, so can remain anonymous. We speak to thousands of people every year, and help them act to protect children and young people from sexual abuse and exploitation.
If you’re not ready to speak to someone yet, you can get confidential support through our live chat and secure messaging service.