Who can I tell?
We know it’s hard for you to talk to anyone about abuse however this is the first step towards help. When you feel ready to tell someone, choose a person you feel comfortable with. Choose someone you think you can trust to help. If the abuse is happening at home, you could talk to somebody outside of the family like a friend’s parents or one of the people we’ve listed below.
There are lots of people you can talk to -
School staff
The people who work in schools are there to help pupils in every way they can. If you get angry in school, miss lessons or struggle to get your work in on time, it can help to talk to a teacher or an assistant. They will also listen and help you if you talk to them about being abused.
Health workers
Doctors or nurses will always help you if you are worried about your own health or someone else's health. You can speak to a doctor or nurse in a safe and private place. They will always be happy to speak to you about anything that upsets you including abuse.
Youth workers
Youth workers are hired to work with young people. There are a variety of youth clubs and groups in Argyll and Bute that offer a range of things, from one-on-one support to clubs and activities. They will always be willing to listen to you and help you to stay safe.
Social workers
Social workers are there to listen to children and young people. They work hard to make things better for people. This includes getting you the help you need to be protected from abuse.
Police
Police officers help keep people safe. If something is happening to you or someone you know that makes you feel sad, frightened or hurts you in any way you can tell the police about it. They will work with you and others to make it stop.
Childline
Please don't keep all the worry to yourself. If you don't feel you can talk to anyone you know, or are not ready for action to be taken, Childline will help. You can call chat online or email them at any time on any day. You don’t have to tell them anything that you don’t want to. They will ask you some questions to find out how you are feeling. They will help you talk about things, and work out what's best to do next. The more you talk to them the more they will understand and help you.