Safeguarding For Young People

Is someone bullying you, hurting you, or doing something to you that you want to stop?

You don’t have to put up with it. You have a right to be safe from abuse. There are ways of getting support.

Keeping safe

Listen to your instincts about the people you meet
Avoid being out of sight of other people when with a grown up
Avoid traveling in someone else’s car by yourself
Avoid going to the home of a grown up by yourself
Tell someone you trust where you’re going
Carry a mobile phone, phone card or enough money in change to be able to make a phone call from a public telephone

Is something wrong?
Something is wrong if someone:

Constantly teases you, puts you down, belittles you, shouts at you or calls you names
Threatens, hits, kicks or punches you
Touches you inappropriately or does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable
Makes suggestive remarks or tries to pressurize you into sexual activity, taking drugs or consuming alcohol
Sends you texts or emails that are inappropriate
Damages or steals your belongings
Tells you to train when you have a serious injury
Does anything that makes you feel lonely, upset, embarrassed, worried, unsafe, hurt, dependent, manipulated or controlled

If any of the above happens to you take action to stop it. You have rights – don’t be bullied or abused.

What to do
If you are being bullied or abused, it is not your fault. Try to:

Be firm and tell the person to stop. Say “No!” firmly
If that doesn’t work try making a lot of noise to attract attention.
Get away from the situation quickly, go to a public place to find help.
Tell your parents/carers or an adult you can trust as soon as possible, so they can help you.
If you’re at an indoor skate park, tell their staff.
If you’re outdoors tell someone that you trust.
If you have access to email, email SBGB’s safeguarding lead Lara Hayward at [email protected]
If you don’t feel you can tell any of these people call Childline 0800 1111 (this is entirely confidential), or NSPCC 0800 800500. You can also call the police (999). The police and social services have trained staff to support people who are being, or have been, bullied or abused. Keep trying if you can’t get through straight away.
If possible, keep a note of the date, time and place, what happened, how you felt and the name of anyone who may have seen what happened
Don’t give up until someone helps you