Children need you to act

Abuse is a far bigger problem than many people realise. That’s because, in the majority of cases, the child suffers in silence. This doesn’t have to be the case.

Everyone has a responsibility to protect children, you do not have to be a parent. If you are worried about any child, act straight away.

Warning signs

There is no one sign that a child is being abused, but there are things you can look out for. Find out about the warning signs.

What to do

There are lots of things you can do  to help and support a child that you think needs protecting before you may need to contact the police or children services.

• Most importantly, listen to the child. If they confide in you, make it clear to them you are taking them seriously and you are going to help them.
• If you can, ask the parent or carer what is happening.
• Talk your concerns through with a friend.
• If the family is under stress, offer the parents help – a chance to talk may be all they need.
• Talk to the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email us at help@nspcc.org.uk about your concerns, it is there to offer you advice and guidance on what you can do.
• Suggest the parents seek help – they could contact their health visitor, doctor, a social worker or the NSPCC Helpline.
• If you see a child at immediate risk of being treated violently it maybe best to intervene directly or call the police on 999.  Don’t place yourself in danger.

We are here to help

The NSPCC Helpline is a free, 24-hour service you can use when you’re worried about a child. If you don’t want to get the police or social services involved, you can always talk to us. Find out more about the NSPCC Helpline .

Be prepared, save the number

Save the NSPCC Helpline number, 0808 800 5000 to your phone and encourage your friends to do the same. You never know when you might see a child in a worrying situation. Saving our number to your mobile means you’ll only ever be seconds away from an expert advisor who can help you decide the right thing to do.

Do it now

Trust your instincts and do something now. If a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999. If you are worried about a child, call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email us at help@nspcc.org.uk . Waiting could be the difference between life and death.