Information For Children & Young People
This page includes information and resources for young people about Domestic Violence & Abuse.
Click on the different links to learn more.
What is Domestic Violence & Abuse?
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter what gender, race, sex, sexuality, religion, or class they are. Domestic abuse can affect people under the age of 18, including teenagers and young people in relationships. It can also happen to older people: there is no age limit.
It can look like:
Physical Abuse:
Hurting a relative or partner, by hitting, punching, kicking or otherwise harming them.
Emotional Abuse:
Bullying a relative or partner, calling them names to upset them, scaring them, shouting at them.
Controlling Behaviour:
It can often include a mix of these behaviours, as well as other types of harmful behaviour.
Abusive behaviour can happen once but can happen more than once and form a pattern. No matter how often it happens, you shouldn’t have to put up with it.
Get Help
Anyone under the age of 19 can call Childline for support. You can reach them on their helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 1111.
You can call our 24hr helpline on 0113 246 0401, our expert advisers will listen to you, offer practical and emotional support and refer you for further support if needed.
You can live chat to us by clicking the chat box at the bottom of this website. Please note the live chat is monitored 1pm-4pm, you can leave a message out of hours and we will get back to you via email.
Feedback from children and young people supported by LWA
Resources for young people or adults working with young children
Childline message board: https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/message-boards/
LoveRespect is a Women’s Aid website that helps you to recognise the signs of an unhealthy relationship before they escalate: https://loverespect.co.uk/
Advance Charity’s healthy relationship toolkits “I Love My Loud Voice”: https://www.advancecharity.org.uk/i-love-my-loud-voice-toolkits/
FAQs
What is it like calling the police?
When you call 999, listen to the questions from the person at the other end and answer them if you can. They will help you if you aren’t sure what to say. When you have been put through to the police they will talk to you to find out how they can help. It is best to speak to the person on the other end if you can. The Police call handler is there to help and support you. They are trained to assist and are keen to help.
If you call 999 and can’t speak because of what is happening, there are things you can do to let the call handler know that you need help. You might be asked to cough, tap keys or make a noise
What is it like calling Childline?
Calling Childline is free from landlines and mobiles in the UK and even if you don’t have credit on your phone you can still call them.
Calls to Childline and Childline’s number won’t show up on your phone bill.
Calls aren’t recorded.
Counsellors will write some notes about what you tell them but Childline is confidential, which means they’ll only share what you have told them in particular situations, like if there’s a danger to life or another safeguarding or legal need to share.
Visit Childline’s website for more information.
What if what is happening isn't abuse? I'm scared of getting it wrong and wasting someone's time.
It can be hard to know if what you and your family are going through is abuse. A good rule of thumb to go by is: if you are scared, being hurt or feel something isn’t right, it could be good to talk to someone you trust. You can also take a look at our What is Domestic Abuse and Violence page to find out more about what domestic violence and abuse can look like.
Asking for help never wasting someone’s time and you will never get in trouble for calling a helpline like Childline, no matter what situation you are in.
I don’t want to call a phone line. Who else can I talk to?
If you are worried about yourself or someone you love, it could help to talk to someone you trust. This could include a:
- Teacher
- Friend
- Family member
- Family friend
- Neighbour
- Group Leader / Youth worker
- The police
- A faith leader i.e. Vicar, Imam, Rabbi
I am in a relationship and I think I am being abused by my partner. We don't live together and we are under 18. Could I be experiencing domestic abuse?
Relationship abuse can happen to anyone. You don’t have to be 18+ and don’t have to be living together for this to happen. Relationship abuse is also common amongst young people.
The following websites and resources could also be useful:
The Childline website section on ‘Friends, relationships and sex‘.
Women’s Aid Love Respect website aimed at teenage girls and young women at risk of relationship abuse with advice and young people’s stories around relationships.
I am being hurt but no one else in my family is being abused or hurt. What can I do?
Children and young people can be hurt when no-one else in your family or household is being hurt by domestic abuse. This could be child abuse. If you think this is happening to you, there are lots of people that can support you.
Child abuse can take lots of different forms, just as domestic abuse can. It can be: physical; emotional; and/or sexual. It can also take other forms. Child abuse can be caused by grown ups or other young people. They could be people in your family or outside of your family like a sports coach, teacher, school friends, people you met online or someone you feel you are in a relationship with.
If you are being scared, hurt or made to feel unsafe in any way, please remember that this is never your fault and you are not alone. It could be good to talk to someone you trust or a trained person on a helpline to find out how you can get help. To find out more about abuse and safety, visit the Childline website.