Physical abuse is when someone hurts you on purpose. They could hurt you themselves, or with an object or weapon. It can include:

• hitting, smacking and slapping
• punching and kicking
• pinching, scratching and biting
• shaking or suffocating you
• scalding or burning you
• hair pulling
• spitting or throwing things at you

Emotional abuse can include:

• calling you names, putting you down, or doing things to make you feel bad about yourself
• shouting at you, even if you haven’t done anything wrong
• ignoring you, leaving you out of things, or making you feel like you don’t belong
• making you take responsibility for things you shouldn’t have to do until you’re older
• controlling you or putting pressure on you to do things you’re not ready to do
• treating you differently from your brothers or sisters
• putting you in dangerous situations
• seeing other people at home being violent, abusive or aggressive 
• stopping you from having any friends.

What is child sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse is when a person forces, tricks or manipulates you into sexual activities.  You might not understand that this is abuse or that this shouldn’t be happening to you.  You might be afraid to tell someone or behave as though this is a normal experience.

It is important that you know that sexual abuse is not your fault and that there are people out there who can help you.

Types of sexual abuse

There are two types of sexual abuse.

Contact abuse is where a person touches you or makes you touch another person.  This can include:

• Sexual touching (under or over clothing)
• Kissing
• Rape or penetration using a body part or object
• Making you touch another person
• Forcing you to take part in sexual activities
• Making you undress

The second type is non-contact abuse.  This is where you are abused without being touched by the abuser and can be in person or online and includes:

• exposing or flashing
• showing pornography
• exposing a child to sexual acts
• making them masturbate
• forcing a child to make, view or share child abuse images or videos
• making, viewing or distributing child abuse images or videos
• forcing a child to take part in sexual activities or conversations online or through a smartphone.

Consent

This helpful video from Thames Valley Police simplifies consent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3nhM9UlJjc&t=2s (suitable for primary school children) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ (suitable for older children)

How to get help

Tell a trusted adult

Call the police

• 999 in an emergency
• 101 for non-emergencies

Contact Wolverhampton Children’s Social Care team

• 01902 555392 between Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5pm and Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
• 01902 552999 outside of the above hours

Call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 – their dedicated child protection specialists will be able to advise and take any necessary action

Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online

Call Childline on 0800 1111 – you can contact Childline at any time day or night to speak to someone about your concerns

If you are worried about a nude or sexual image or video of you that has been shared online, Childline can also help you to report it via the Report Remove tool.

Visit www.childline.org.uk/remove to make a confidential report to the IWF (Internet Watch Foundation) and see if the image or video can be taken down.

Report to CEOP – CEOP is a law enforcement agency and is here to help keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online

Please remember, whatever has happened it is not your fault and you have done the right thing by getting help.

Where to get support

The Lighthouse provides support to children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse to help you recover.

The Survivors Trust provide emotional support and information to any survivor of child abuse.

NSPCC provide therapeutic services to help children move on from abuse.

Neglect is when someone isn’t giving you the things you need. This isn’t the same as giving you what you want all the time, but can mean you might not have:

• clothes that are clean and warm and shoes that fit and keep you dry
• enough to eat and drink
• protection from dangerous situations
• somewhere warm, dry and comfortable to sleep
• help when you’re ill or you’ve been hurt
• love and care from your parents or carers
• support with your education
• access and help with medication if needed.

You also shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time looking after other people in your family without getting any support from an adult.

If you are worried about what’s happening to you or someone else, there are lots of places you can go for support:

School:

You could tell a teacher, the school nurse, or anyone who you feel safe with. 

Doctor:

You can visit your doctor about anything that is worrying you, this includes if you’re feeling unsafe at home.

Childline:

You can talk to Childline online or on the phone any time. Find out more.