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Speak to James to discuss talking about accessing the School Wellbeing Service

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Call 999 in an emergency if someone is in danger or a crime is happening right now.

Call 101 to report crime or concerns that are not emergencies, like if something has already happened or you want advice.

Both numbers are free and available to help you stay safe.

You won’t get into trouble for asking for help, the police are there to support you.

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You are not alone. Suicidal thoughts are a sign that you need help and support, and there are people ready to listen and help you through this.

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If you have any questions about Young Carers please speak to our Young Carers Champion Steve Burdett

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You are not alone. Abuse is never your fault, and help is available. Reach out, someone will listen and support you.

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Email:

k.mower@danesgatecommunity.org.uk

j.walker1@danesgatecommunity.org.uk

d.furniss@danesgatecommunity.org.uk

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Safeguarding at Danesgate – Danesgate Community

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If however, you are not happy with the actions of those in school responsible for Safeguarding or you cannot contact anyone please contact York’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH is a multi-agency single point of contact for all concerns about children and to make sure that children receive the right level of support) directly yourself for guidance on 01904 551900:

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It's not always easy to know what abuse is. Find out about the different types of abuse and how to get support.

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If you’re experiencing abuse, you might not always use this word to describe your situation, but it’s important to know that the pain you are experiencing is real and that there is support available to you.

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A safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour. Shore has anonymous advice and support to help you or someone you know manage worrying thoughts and learn more about living safely both online and offline. All our services are anonymous, which means you don't have to say who you are.

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Emotional abuse can include name calling, being left out or ignored, being treated differently to others, and being controlled.

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Home / Young carers

Young carers

We support young people aged between 5 and 18 who are helping to look after someone at home.

You might be helping look after a brother or sister, parent or grandparent with an illness, disability, mental health problem or a problem with alcohol or drugs.

What do we offer?

Youth clubs

Our youth clubs are just for young carers. We have three separate groups which are split by age so that you can be with others the same age . We play games, make things, bake things, sit around, have snacks and just have some fun.

Trips

We have lots of trips and events for you to join in with. They are usually in the school holidays but can sometimes be on evenings or weekends. The trips are a chance for you to have a break from caring, meet some other young carers and to try out new things and places.

Please contact us for information about young carer events.

One to one support

We offer one to one support to those young carers who are going through an especially tough time with caring. It's a chance to talk through any problems you have and find ways of making things better.

School

We hold lunch time drop in sessions at some York schools. It's a chance to catch up with our support workers and the other young carers at your school. We also offer a Young Carer Card for you to carry at school, so that you can show it to your teacher to help you explain if you need extra support or understanding.

If you work at a York school and would like to hold a drop in at your school, or work with us to plan support for young carers, please get in touch.

Discount card

When you register with us as a young carer you will get a discount card to use at a range of shops and cafes in York.

Carers emergency card

If you support someone who is over 18 you may also be able to get a Carers Emergency Card.

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Watch the full video

Thinking of suicide?

Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247.

My whole way of thinking has changed. I feel positive about my future and the people around me. I'm now looking forward to the future and helping others just like me!

Thank you so much for the incredible support PAPYRUS and HOPELINE247 has given me. You helped me in that moment and it kept me alive.

I intend to continue to fundraise for and promote PAPYRUS. I am so proud and humbled to be involved with a wonderful charity, and to have received the support that I have.

Having been personally bereaved by suicide I understand the importance and need for our charity. I am surrounded by others who are as passionate as I am about saving lives.

* All feedback is provided by people who contact PAPYRUS. All feedback has full consent of the user and the user remains fully anonymous. Some feedback may have been adapted to keep the users anonymity.

Our latest news

Stay up to date with PAPYRUS; our news section is regularly updated with helpful advice and guidance, as well as information about our upcoming events and campaigns. If you have any questions or queries please get in touch.

Our upcoming events

Please see below some of our upcoming and exciting events including fundraisers and charity events we will be attending. For more information please get in touch.

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Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide

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PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Now

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charity bereavement child death grief loss baby stillbirth miscarriage suicide young people

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Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

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Additional support

If you n one-to-one and group sessions with a bereavement support worker or bereavement counsellor . Sessions are usually delivered at a set time, over a period of up to 8 weeks.

Not everyone will need additional bereavement support or counselling . However, if you feel you are really struggling or have experienced severe, traumatic and/or multiple bereavements, or if you have complex personal circumstances, we encourage you to submit an enquiry. Someone from our team will then assess your individual circumstances and make a recommendation about the level of support you need.

Due to high demand, there is currently a waiting list for additional support. In the meantime, you can still get great support by reaching out to our bereavement support workers over live chat, email, phone or text.

You will need to be aged 13 or over to submit an additional support enquiry. If you are aged 12 or under, please ask a trusted adult to support you with your enquiry.

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If you're a grieving young person aged 25 or under, we're here to help with information, on-demand services, bereavement support and counselling.

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We're here to help you no matter how long you've been grieving. Learn more about our different bereavement support services here.

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A world where no child is left to grieve alone

We care passionately about helping bereaved children, young people and their families find hope and healing after the death of someone close.

Crises in the news

If you have been affected by the recent devastating events in the news, please read our useful guides or don't hesitate to reach out and call our helpline on 0808 802 0111 from 9am - 9pm weekdays.

This year, our theme is 'The Shape of Your Support'. We are focusing on the people around a bereaved child or young person, beyond their friends or family, that can be there to support them through their grief. At Grief Encounter, we help build compassionate communities that can provide the right support from the right people, at the right time. Find out more about how this special week supports bereaved children.

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Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

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One child in every UK classroom will experience the death of someone close by the time they reach 16 years old. Grief Encounter is here to help with the confusion, fear, loneliness and pain, providing a lifeline to children and young people to cope with free, immediate, one-to-one support.

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Grief is the feeling you have when you’re going through a loss. Usually, people feel grief after a person or animal dies, but not always. People can also experience grief when nobody has died.

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Loss, bereavement and change is something that will affect us all at some point in our lives. Find out more about how to manage grief and what support is available.

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Hope Again - Young people coping with bereavement and living after loss. A website from Cruse Bereavement.

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Find out where to go for advice and support about bullying for parents/carers, young people, or those who work with young people.

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Cyberbullying - Information and advice about Cyberbullying for victims of online abuse and cyber crime.

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You can talk to us

Sometimes bullying can be hard to describe, especially if you're being bullied by friends.

If someone's trying to make you feel bad, that's not okay. We're here to help.

Sometimes bullying can be harassment or threatening behaviour, which is against the law. So if someone keeps making you feel scared on purpose, what they're doing could be illegal.

Harassment can include someone:

lying to you about who they are

threatening to hurt you

sending nasty or offensive messages to you or about you.

Telling someone how you feel can be tough, but it can really help you feel less alone.

You don't need to tell someone everything at once. You could start by choosing one person you trust to talk to. If you can't think of anyone, you can always talk to us.

If you're struggling to say what's happening out loud, you could try:

Taking your mind off what's happening can help you have more energy to cope when things are difficult.

Why not try:

Taking a break from checking your messages
Try muting your notifications and doing something else if people are messaging you online, even if it's just for a short time.

Going for a walk
If you feel it's safe to, go for a walk or run in the park. Or try playing sports.

Creating a maze
Focus on making it as big or complex as you want. If you want to challenge yourself, try making one without taking your pen off the paper.

Distracting yourself right now

If you're struggling with your feelings, try moving away from anything that might distract you and take a few deep breaths. Focus on what's around you and name:

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch or feel

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

Bottling up your feelings can make them hard to cope with. But there are lots of ways you can let them out. Why not try:

Listening to music
Try listening to music that matches how you feel. Or if you want to distract yourself, listen to music that makes you happy or a podcast.

Writing a poem
Write a poem about how you're feeling now. Or keep your mind busy by coming up with limericks or rhyming poems.

Making a comic book
You could make a comic about what's happening, what you'd like to happen or something completely different.

Bullying can have a big effect on your confidence. You might be worried about going out or spending time with people, which can really affect your mental health.

Doing something small every day can really help you to feel better and build your confidence.
Feeling better with positive statements
Saying positive statements to yourself can help when you're feeling low or like the bullying's your fault. You could say them out loud or in your head.

Focus on positive things happening now and try making some up yourself. Or use some of the examples below:

"The bullying isn't my fault"

"I deserve to have a life without bullying"

"Today is only one day"

"Things can change"

"I'm strong enough to keep trying".

Making sure you have a healthy routine and taking care of yourself can have a big impact on your mental health.

Having a healthy routine includes:

making sure you get enough sleep

eating healthily and not having too much junk food

doing something every day that makes you feel good or proud

spending time with people who make you happy

exercising or spending time outside.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. And if you're worried about it, it's important to get support.

You can talk to your doctor about anything you might be feeling. Big or small. If you're not sure where to start, you can use sites like DocReady to help make a list of your symptoms.

Self-harm and suicide
Lots of young people talk to us about feeling suicidal and wanting to self-harm. If you're feeling this way, it's good to tell your doctor about it or you can always talk to us.

Watch: How to cope after bullying

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Let them know you're there for them
Listening and letting someone who's being bullied know you're there if they want to chat can make a massive difference. Chatting to them regularly and saying you're there for them can help them feel less alone.

Help them to get support
You could offer to go with them to report the bullying and help them think about what they want to say. Or you could help them report it on social media.

Think before you like or comment on something
Liking, sharing or commenting on a post designed to bully someone can make it more popular and visible, even if you're not supporting it. Don't respond to a post, even if you're not sure if it's meant to bully someone.

Help to distract them
Help them to take their mind off things for a short while. You could watch a film, play sports or a game together.

Be positive around people
Whether it's posting positive things online, or being friendly to people at school, being positive can help lots of people to feel better.

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Bullying can happen to anyone. Whether it's online, at home or in school, no one has the right to hurt you or make you feel bad. If you or someone you know is being bullied, we're here to help.

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If your life is at imminent risk, please call 999 immediately.
What is bullying?
Bullying can be defined as unwanted, aggressive behaviour, including threats, spreading rumours, attacking physically or verbally, or excluding from a group. It can take many forms and have a lasting impact on your emotional wellbeing and mental health and leave you feeling alone and isolated.

You might know the person bullying you, for example a friend or your partner or a colleague, or it might be someone you don't know, online.

Cyberbullying is any kind of bullying or harassment that takes place on the internet, or through technology such as a smartphone or tablet. It can and does happen on social media, in gaming sites, messaging apps and chat rooms. This form of bullying can include trolling, cyberstalking, impersonation (when someone pretends to be you online), harassment, spreading misinformation and exclusion.

Bullying takes place when there is an imbalance of power between two or more people. It can take many forms, including bullying someone because of their race, gender, sexuality, their body shape/size, if they have a disability either physical or mental, and bullying someone online. These are all things beyond the control of the person being bullied.

While it may feel like bullying is an issue that only happens to young people, it can and does happen at any age.
What to do if you're being bullied
Being bullied can be a frightening and isolating experience. You may feel embarrassed to open up and talk to someone about it, but it's important that you do.

Bullying in all forms is hurtful and can make someone's life miserable. It's ok and normal to be feeling anxious, depressed, worried, stressed, angry or overwhelmed if you are experiencing bullying, but you don't have to tolerate it.

If you are dealing with a bully, you don't have to face it alone. You can text SHOUT to 85258 to speak to a trained volunteer on our confidential text helpline. For more advice on what to do if you're being bullied, visit the National Bullying Helpline.
How to help someone who is being bullied
It can be upsetting to see or hear about someone being bullied. If you know someone who is being bullied, it's important for them to know that you are there for them and that you are listening. Let them talk it through with you at their own pace, and give them time to work through how they are feeling.

If they'd prefer to talk to someone confidentially, you can share our text helpline with them, it is free, confidential, anonymous and off-bill.

If you need support you can text Shout to 85258, any time - day or night.
What we've learnt about bullying
At Shout our volunteers regularly take conversations with people about bullying. Our data team have been looking into these anonymised conversations to see what we can learn about supporting people who are being bullied with their mental health. You can read more about this on the Mental Health Innovations website.

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Bullying can be defined as unwanted, aggressive behaviour, including threats, spreading rumours, attacking physically or verbally, or excluding from a group. It can take many forms and have a lasting impact on your emotional wellbeing and mental health and leave you feeling alone and isolated.

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If you’re being bullied, whether it’s online, at school, uni or work, it can be tough and really hurtful. We’re here to offer advice on getting support.

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Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service

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The National Careers Service can help you with your career, learning and training choices. Find out more about us and the different ways we can support you. This service is available to people who live in England.

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Register your profile, search vacancies and apply for an apprenticeship - you must be 16 or over

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Whether you’ve witnessed a crime or you’re worried about something you’ve done. Get help and advice about crime and the law.

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Explore Kooth - All kinds of articles, stories and content to help you through tough times

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Crime and Antisocial Behaviour - Explore Kooth

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Crime & Antisocial Behaviour Crime & Antisocial Behaviour Stories Explore Collections Anger Issues Anxiety Bullying Crime & Antisocial Behaviour Depression Exam Stress Grief Mental Health Services Explained Mindfulness Movement for Mental Health Neurodiversity, Autism & ADHD Racism & Discrimination Self Care Understanding Mental Health Using Your Voice Join Kooth For Free Mindfulness Exercises Explore Podcasts

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Need help after crime?

Get in touch anytime for independent, free, and confidential advice:

In an emergency you should always call 999.

Our services are confidential. We will only share information about you without your consent if we're concerned about your, or someone else's safety, or if we're required to by law. Read our privacy policy.

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Victim Support is the independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.

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Find out what victim support services are available to you in North Yorkshire.

Available services

Find information about different types of crime and how to get help if you have been a victim.

Crime information

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Victim Support | Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire

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Have you been the victim of crime in North Yorkshire? We provide advice, information and support. Find out how we can help you.

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Legal advice and information on child, family and education law for parents, carers and young people in England from Coram Children's Legal Centre Family law Legal information on family and children law matters in England. The information ranges from private law matters such as contact, domestic abuse and adoption to public law matters including local [...]

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Children and young people are often hidden victims, but they are regularly directly and indirectly impacted by abuse. Click here to get help now Our specialist teams support children and young people who have witnessed or been subject to domestic abuse and young people who’ve been sexually assaulted. We also…

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Domestic violence or abuse can happen to anyone. Find out how to recognise the signs and where to get help.
If you're worried someone might see you have visited this page, the Women's Aid website tells you how to cover your tracks online.

Domestic violence, also called domestic abuse, includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse in couple relationships or between family members.

Domestic violence can happen against anyone, and anybody can be an abuser.

Getting help and support for domestic violence

You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you, it's important to tell someone and remember you're not alone.

Other ways to get support:

You can also email for support. It is important that you specify when and if it is safe to respond and to which email address:

The Survivor's Handbook from the charity Women's Aid is free and provides information for women on a wide range of issues, such as housing, money, helping your children, and your legal rights.

If you are worried that you are abusive, you can contact the free Respect helpline on 0808 802 4040.

Signs of domestic violence and abuse

There are different kinds of abuse, but it's always about having power and control over you.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you might be in an abusive relationship or experiencing domestic abuse.

Emotional abuse

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

belittle you, or put you down?

blame you for the abuse or arguments?

deny that abuse is happening, or downplay it?

isolate you from your family and friends?

stop you going to college or work?

make unreasonable demands for your attention?

accuse you of flirting or having affairs?

tell you what to wear, who to see, where to go, and what to think?

control your money, or not give you enough to buy food or other essential things?

monitor your social media profiles, share photos or videos of you without your consent or use GPS locators to know where you are?

Threats and intimidation

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

threaten to hurt or kill you?

destroy things that belong to you?

stand over you, invade your personal space?

threaten to kill themselves or the children?

read your emails, texts or letters?

harass or follow you?

Physical abuse

The person abusing you may hurt you in a number of ways.

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

slap, hit or punch you?

push or shove you?

bite or kick you?

burn you?

choke you or hold you down?

throw things?

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone.

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

touch you in a way you do not want to be touched?

make unwanted sexual demands?

hurt you during sex?

pressure you to have unsafe sex - for example, not using a condom?

pressure you to have sex?

If anyone has sex with you when you do not want to, this is rape. It is still rape if that person is your partner.

Have you ever felt afraid of your partner?

Have you ever changed your behaviour because you're afraid of what your partner might do?

If you think you may be in an abusive relationship, there are lots of people who can help you.

Domestic violence and abuse against women often starts during pregnancy. If the relationship is already abusive, it can get worse.

Find out more about domestic abuse in pregnancy.

If you decide to leave

The first step in escaping an abusive situation is realising that you're not alone and it's not your fault.

Before you go, try to get advice from an organisation such as:

If you're considering leaving, be careful who you tell. It's important the person abusing you does not know where you're going.

Women's Aid has useful information about making a safety plan that applies to both women and men, including advice if you decide to leave.

Helping a friend if they're being abused

If you're worried a friend is being abused, let them know you've noticed something is wrong.

They might not be ready to talk, but try to find quiet times when they can talk if they choose to.

If someone confides in you that they're suffering domestic abuse:

listen, and take care not to blame them

acknowledge it takes strength to talk to someone about experiencing abuse

give them time to talk, but do not push them to talk if they do not want to

acknowledge they're in a frightening and difficult situation

tell them nobody deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what the abuser has said

support them as a friend, encourage them to express their feelings, and allow them to make their own decisions

do not tell them to leave the relationship or leave home if they're not ready - that's their decision

ask if they have suffered physical harm and if they have, offer to go with them to a hospital or GP

help them report the assault to the police if they choose to

be ready to provide information about organisations that offer help for people experiencing domestic abuse

Video: domestic violence

In this video, 2 women describe their experiences of domestic abuse.

Sexual assault

Anyone who has been sexually assaulted can get confidential help, treatment and support at a sexual assault referral centre.
Read more about getting help after rape and sexual assault Find your nearest sexual assault referral centre

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Getting help for domestic violence and abuse

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Find out about the signs of domestic violence and abuse, and where to get help. Domestic violence and abuse can happen against women and against men, and anyone can be an abuser.

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Things you should remember:

nobody should have to experience domestic abuse in their home

if it's happening, it's not your fault

domestic abuse doesn't always involve physical violence - it can also include bullying and threats

you can always speak to a counsellor about what's going on

if you're in danger call 999.

When Jahmene was growing up, his father was physically and emotionally abusive towards him and his mother.

It can be hard to know who to talk to when you're feeling unsafe at home. But Childline is still here to support you when you need us.

You could try talking to an adult you trust, like someone in your family or a friend's parents or carers. It can be hard not to talk in person, but it can help to send a message to tell someone you need to talk. You could also talk to your GP if you're able to.

You can call a Childline counsellor any time for free on 0800 1111 or speak to a counsellor online using 1-2-1 chat.

It can be scary talking when you're stuck at home. If you don't need to talk straight away, sometimes it can be safer to send a message from your locker. We'll usually reply within a day.

In an emergency, you should always call 999.

If someone at home is hurting you, it can help to make a plan of how you can stay safe. Sometimes this can mean:

making sure you're not alone with that person

avoiding them when they've been drinking or they're angry

staying in your room or somewhere in the house that feels safe.

If someone's hurting you, it's never your fault. If something's happened and you're not sure if you can stay safe, then you should phone Childline on 0800 1111 or the police on 999.

A safety plan can help you know what to do if you feel unsafe at home. It can help to make one if you're worried about being hurt or if you think something might go wrong. A safety plan includes all of the information you'll need in an emergency.

It's important to talk to someone you trust or to Childline when you're making a safety plan.

Your plan could include:

who to call - this could be an adult you trust, Childline or the police

safe places you can stay if you have to leave home, and a plan of how to get there if you need to travel

things you'll need in an emergency, like medication or a phone charger

what to do if you're caring for someone else.

If something happens and you need to leave home, it's important to talk to the police. While the country is on lockdown, they have the power to take you home, even when you don't want to. Telling them you've left home and that you don't feel safe will help them to support you.

If you've left home, the best way to get support is by phoning the police on 999.

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Domestic abuse is when a grown up threatens, bullies or hurts another adult in the family. Sometimes it's called domestic violence.

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Beat provides Helplines offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are in your journey.

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Eating problems can happen because of lots of different things, but we're always here to support you.

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Life can feel overwhelming, and that's okay. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, feeling low or just need someone to talk to, we're here. Find real stories, practical advice and support from people who get it.

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Mental Health Support for Young People | The Mix

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Struggling with your mental health? The Mix offers youth-led advice, real-life stories, and expert support on anxiety, depression, stress, and more.

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What To Do If You’re Experiencing Eating Problems

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Whether you have a diagnosed eating disorder like anorexia, bulimia or ARFID, or you have just begun to struggle with food and eating, help is available.

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To hit a target of worth takes practice and courage. Believe you can do it, keep trying and you will get there.
Worth Warrior is a free app created for young people to manage negative body image, low self-worth, and related early-stage eating difficulties or disorders. It provides a range of helpful activities and information, based on the notion that eating and body-related issues can be helped through learning to challenge and change thoughts, emotions, behaviours and body image issues underlying low self-worth.

By identifying these underlying factors, and monitoring them over time, you can also start to identify what your triggers and maintaining factors are and work towards making positive change.

The Worth Warrior app, recommended for ages 12 and above, has been developed for teenage mental health charity stem4 by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Nihara Krause, in collaboration with young people, and uses principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E).
The Worth Warrior app is private, anonymous, and safe. Please note the app is an aid in treatment but does not replace it.

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Worth Warrior is the latest app from award-winning teenage mental health charity stem4.

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Get tips on coping with exam stress and pressure, plus how to deal with pressure from your family and how to stop worrying about not getting the grades you need.

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Try these tips to help prepare on the night before an exam:

Go to bed early
Getting a good night's sleep will help you more than trying to revise all night. It's better to make sure you're not tired the next day

Look after yourself
Have a good, healthy meal and drink lots of water so you don't get dehydrated or have a headache when you wake up

Re-read your notes
Don't try and remember everything. Write down 5 things you want to remember for your exam and then leave it at that

Have a laugh
Chat to someone who makes you giggle. Watch funny clips on YouTube. Whatever it is, it's important to laugh. It can loosen you up and make you feel a little less stressed. Which can only be a good thing

Know the details
Find out where the exam is and what time it starts. Make sure you know how to get there and what time you need to leave

Set an alarm
Make sure you wake up in good time in the morning.

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Try these tips to help prepare on the night before an exam: Go to bed early Getting a good night's sleep will help you more than trying to revise all night.

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Information for 11-18 year olds – Exam stress

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We explain what exam stress is and how it can affect your mental health. Find advice on how to cope with exam stress and where to go for support.

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Explore Kooth - All kinds of articles, stories and content to help you through tough times

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Exams are daunting for everyone, and can be extremely stressful. We put together this collection to help you navigate all aspects of exam stress

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Exam Self-Care | Mental Health Advice For Students

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It’s important to look after your mental health while revising for exams, but how can you do this? Our Activist, Rose, shares her favourite ways.

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Advice for children and young people - St Giles

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Help for young people Help for young people worried about weapons, gangs, going country and similar issues Pressure can take many forms. Pressure to pay the bills. Pressure to play […]

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The UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime.

Leads the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime.

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The UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime. Leads the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime.

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Stop It Now | Preventing child sexual abuse

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Online self-help and confidential Stop It Now helpline for anyone worried about child sexual abuse, including their own thoughts or behaviour.

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Definitions: child criminal exploitation and sexual exploitation

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Read about the language we should use or avoid when discussing exploitation and abuse, including terms such as county lines, child criminal exploitation or CCE, grooming, child sexual exploitation or CSE.

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Child trafficking is when young people are tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved and then exploited, forced to work or sold. Child trafficking and exploitation are types of child abuse.

Children and young people can be trafficked into the UK from other countries, and also within the UK. They could be moved to a different country or even within the same town or village. Traffickers could work alone, be part of a small group or a large organised group.

If you've experienced child trafficking and are being exploited it can be really hard to recognise what's happening. You may feel trapped and like you have to do something you're uncomfortable with or don't want to do.

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Child trafficking is when young people are tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved and then exploited, forced to work or sold. Child trafficking and exploitation are types of child abuse. Children and young people can be trafficked into the UK from other countries, and also within the UK.

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We have advice about how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and about what support is available for children and young people.

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If you’re worried about sexual exploitation, we have information and advice to protect and help children and young people.

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Are you being bullied?

If you are being bullied, or you are not ready to make a report to CEOP, you can talk to Childline anonymously online or on the phone - No worry is too big or too small.

Visit Childline

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Are you being bullied? If you are being bullied, or you are not ready to make a report to CEOP, you can talk to Childline anonymously online or on the phone - No worry is too big or too small. Visit Childline

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5 facts about FGM:

FGM is abuse, and it's illegal in the UK

there is no religious or medical reason for FGM

FGM can happen at any age before marriage

FGM can be dangerous if there is blood loss and infection

if you've been cut or you're worried about FGM, help is available.

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Female Genital Mutilation is also called FGM, female circumcision, cutting or sunna is when a girl's external genitals (private parts) are cut away. This is abuse, and it is illegal in the UK.

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Female genital mutilation is illegal. We’ve got advice to help you keep children and young people safe.

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How can Karma Nirvana help me? - Karma Nirvana

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People calling our helpline often tell us that we’re the first organisation to truly listen and understand what is happening to them. Many callers describe the experience as life changing.

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It might feel difficult, but telling your friend how they’re making you feel can really help.

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Explore Kooth - All kinds of articles, stories and content to help you through tough times

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Finding friendships that are good for you - Explore Kooth

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Not having good friendships might make us feel alone, sad, and unable to feel like we really belong.

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The importance of friendships for your mental health

Friends can help you with your mental health in lots of different ways. They might check in with how you are feeling, or simply make you laugh with the best TikToks. They might also help you by:

When friends help and support you, they can boost your self-esteem, make you feel good, and remind you that you are loved for who you are. They can help you to look after your mental health.

Advice from young people like you

Our Activists and other young people like you, share how their friends have helped them with their mental health.

Talking to friends about mental health

Talking to a friend about your mental health is one of the first steps on the road to feeling better. But sometimes, this can feel quite scary. You might not know what to say, or you might be nervous about sharing how you are feeling. That's okay! Here are some tips that can help:

Pick a good time when you won't get interrupted and find a quiet space to chat.

Explain how you are feeling.

Be clear about what you want shared. You may not want other friends to know yet, and that's okay. Let your friend know that you are not ready to share with others. However, if your friend is worried that you aren't safe, they will need to tell a trusted adult.

Remember: Good friends will want to be there for you so you don't have to struggle alone. For more tips, have a look at our page on reaching out for help.

It is normal to feel nervous or uncomfortable when it comes to talking about your mental health. This can make you feel like it is not something you want to do, but talking about your mental health with the people you trust is often the first step to feeling better.

If you are struggling with a friendship

Throughout our lives, we might struggle with our friendships. We might argue with friends, no longer speak to friends we were once close to, or we might lose some friendships. You might struggle with a friend because:

one of you moves away, making it difficult to keep in touch

your friend makes new friends that you do not feel comfortable around

you might be left out of the friendship group

you meet new friends and aren't able to spend as much time with your old friend as you used to

one of you might be struggling with your mental health, meaning that you/your friend might be withdrawn and not keeping in touch as much

your friend might not understand how you are feeling or what you are going through - this can make it difficult to chat to your friends, or make it feel like they aren't taking your feelings seriously

you are making the effort to see your friend and stay in touch but they aren't making the effort back

they often ask you for advice and it feels like a lot of responsibility that you are struggling to manage

We might have arguments with friends, and sometimes fall out, but often you can get through those difficult moments together. You or your friend may not have realised how each other were feeling or understood what either of you were going through.

By talking things through and explaining how you both feel, you can both learn to better understand how you can support each other. Overcoming these tough times together can sometimes help make your friendship stronger.

Coping with the loss of a friendship

In some situations, however, your friendship might come to an end. You may have tried to work through an argument and it hasn't worked out, or they may have not been very nice to you.

Friendships can come to a natural end too. There might not be a specific reason, but you might no longer keep in touch. Sometimes people grow apart and that's okay.

When friendships come to an end, it can be really tough. Friends are there through the highs and lows - they can be like our chosen family, meaning that it can feel tough to move on - but things can get better over time.

If someone close to you passes away, it can be extremely difficult. Jacob shares how he coped with the death of his best friend and Nia shares advice on how she coped with losing a friendship.

If you have lost a friend, our page has advice if you're finding it hard to cope.

When I lost my best friend to suicide at 16 years old, I had panic attacks and walked out of lessons at college, flooded in oceans of guilt and upset.

I went from being a very hard-working media student to not caring. I became very distant and didn't put much effort into my work.

I reached out to my GP who was very useful in supporting me. I found a counsellor, which has been a lifesaver for me in getting me back on my feet and learning how to manage my grief while keeping the memories of my friend alive.

Jacob's story: Coping with the death of my best friend

Over the years of hurting and healing, I have unfortunately learnt that there is no magic cure for dealing with the loss of a friendship. You can't ambush a heart into healing or speeding up the process, but the days get less painful and in my experience, you will come through the other side.

Take time for yourself. Don't try and replace them. Learn what it was that you valued in that friendship. Figure out what it is that you feel like you are missing without them. This will help you to look for it in future.

Cherish those friends who are currently around you, hold onto the memories you've made and trust the process.

Nia's story: How to cope with the loss of a friendship

Tips and advice from our Activists

Our Activists share their tips on what to do if you're struggling with a friendship.

Understanding when a friendship is unhealthy

While occasional arguments or disagreements can be normal between friends, there are times when friendships can become unhealthy and affect you in a negative way. This can be things like:

your friends pressuring you to do something you feel uncomfortable with, like taking drugs or drinking alcohol

when jokes or banter become hurtful and disrespectful

you are constantly arguing and falling out

they continue to ask you for help when you have told them you are unable to

they make you feel guilty

they make you feel uncomfortable when spending time with different friends and make you feel like you have to choose between them

they bully you

the friendship feels 'one-sided', where they ask a lot of you but you don't feel like they support you in return

they isolate you from a group on purpose, making you feel lonely

Sometimes, friends might do these things unintentionally or without realising, or they might continue to do them after you've asked them to stop. Ultimately, it's about how you feel about the friendship.

Show/hide caption

Artwork by @thetypewriterdaily. An open sketchbook shows a drawing that represents releasing what isn't for you. The left-hand page shows a hand releasing grey colours from its palm. The right-hand page shows a hand receiving a rainbow into its palm. The text reads, 'release what isn't for you so you can receive what is - Mansi.'

If you're finding a friendship difficult

If you're finding a friendship difficult, you might want to talk to that friend about how they have been treating you. You might be nervous about talking to them, or worried about how they will react. Childline have some tips on how you can talk to your friend and be assertive to explain how you feel.

If your friend is constantly asking you for help but you're not sure what to say, it can make you feel stressed or anxious. Our page on how to support a friend with their mental health has tips on how you can set boundaries and look after your mental health, which you may find helpful.

When a friendship becomes unhealthy, it can impact other areas of your life and how you think and feel. It can make you feel down or anxious, or might lower your self-esteem and how you feel around other people. If you feel like this, it's important that you are able to get help. Even when you disagree with friends, you still deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

You are confused, the world seems scary, and it feels like everyone else fits in and you don't. As if they all have the rule book to life which you forgot to pick up.

Right now, fitting in seems so, so important. But understanding friendships seems impossible and people are just really hard work! Growing up is hard. I know people say this a lot, but it really is true.

I know it feels like nobody gets you - you feel like an outsider looking in. You feel like an alien, born onto the wrong planet and in some ways, I guess you are. But actually, being different isn't a bad thing.

Coping with peer pressure

It's normal for people to compare themselves to their friends and peers, and often the influence of your friends can have a positive role in shaping your identity. Sometimes though, the influence of your friends and peers can be a cause of stress.

If you feel like you're being pressured by friends or peers into doing something that you don't want to do, this is called peer pressure. For example, you might feel pressured to take drugs or drink alcohol, to take dangerous risks when driving, or to have sex before you feel ready. If you are in a situation like this, it's important to say how you feel and that you don't want to take part. If your friends keep trying to get you to take part, speak to a trusted adult about how you are feeling. You need to make sure you are safe, so if you do feel at risk, you should reach out to professional services.

Seek out good friendships

You may worry that by not doing something that your friends are doing, you will be left out, or it will damage your friendship.

But remember, a good friend won't pressure you to do anything you're not comfortable with.

You deserve to have friends that accept your decisions and make you feel as though your feelings are valid.

Below are some tips to help you cope with peer pressure. Rose, 20, also shares her advice in our blog.

Real stories about friendship from young people

Get help now

If you are struggling with a friend and not sure who to talk to, there are people who will help you get through this. Here are some organisations that can provide you with support.

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If you are in crisis right now and want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Friends | Tips and Advice about Friendships

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Friends can be a source of mental health support. But sometimes, you might find you're not getting along. Our page has tips and advice that can help you.

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The Raise York website is designed to support parents, carers, children, young people and anyone who works with children, young people and families.

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I’m a young person - The Go-To | Mental Health in North Yorkshire

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As a young person, life can be challenging. If you need help, we have collected everything you might need to navigate this time better.

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Our children and young people's wellbeing resources aim to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health & wellbeing. These pages have been co-produced by young people to help other young people.

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Our children and young people's wellbeing resources aim to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health & wellbeing. These pages have been co-produced by young people to help other young people.

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Professional help

friendly staff

Need to talk? Whatever's on your mind, we can help. Even if you just need someone who understands or want advice for a friend.

The teams we work with help lots of people like teenagers in schools, parents of young children and mums with new born babies.

Health professionals

start messaging

Set-up a messaging service and support more people, more easily with the resources you already have.

You'll start conversations earlier, stop problems escalating and make connections where it's hard to reach.

I thought it would be awkward or embarrassing but it's actually not. Thanks for helping. ANONYMOUS USER

Happy with the quick and professional response and that my worries are being addressed and taken seriously. YOUNG PERSON, YEAR 10

I was struggling so much today but having someone at the end of a text that's willing to help is great. FIRST TIME PARENT

hello

I love being part of this service!
It's a valuable addition. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

It's a great tool to provide a service to our client group in an accessible way. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

We are excited to have this opportunity to engage with the young people in our area. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

Parents are enjoying having this as an additional way to access advice. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

We've had contacts from young people that would not have contacted us before. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

Young people can 'park' a question, even out-of-hours, knowing it will be responded to appropriately. STAFF FEEDBACK

Confidential

and anonymous

It can be easier to say something difficult in a discrete message. Your conversation will be confidential, if a health professional is very concerned you're in danger, they may involve other services to help keep you safe.

Trusted

safe and secure

We work with teams across the UK so you will get help from health professionals near you. Staff share secure electronic records of conversations so you never have to repeat yourself and all teams follow strict confidentiality rules.

Convenient

helping everyone

Health professionals say setting-up a messaging service is a safe and manageable way for small teams to speak directly with lots of people. Messaging helps provide support at a time that suits everyone.

Need to talk?

how it works

We'll confirm receipt of your message immediately then you'll speak to a health professional who will listen, ask questions and support you. You only have to share what you feel comfortable with and you can ask questions too.

Most teams reply during normal office hours. If you message out-of-hours they'll reply when they're next in. You should always hear back from someone within 24 working hours at most.

If you need help in the meantime contact your doctor, visit a NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. If it is an emergency, dial 999 or visit A&E.

Your network provider will charge your usual rate for messages you send.

Start a chat

Health teams

set-up a service

We've been helping clinical teams set-up healthcare messaging services since 2012. As an NHS team we understand how to support you all the way. We will help you take the quickest route to setting-up a safe, secure and successful service so you can stay focused on providing high quality care.

"You have a great enthusiastic team of professional, experienced, supportive people"Zoe Warren, Professional Lead, School Nursing, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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Need to talk? Whatever's on your mind, we can help. Even if you just need someone who understands or want advice for a friend. The teams we work with help lots of people like teenagers in schools, parents of young children and mums with new born babies.

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What you can do

1. Tell someone what's happening. This could be your teacher or your manager at work. They can help to make changes or support you.

2. Follow policies or guidelines. Your school or employer have a duty to protect you from. discrimination. Find out about their discrimination policy so that you can report what's happened.

3. Keep a record. Messages, videos or a diary of what's been happening can help when telling an adult or be used as evidence.

4. Keep telling. You may have to speak out more than once about what's happening. It's okay to tell someone else if you don't feel it's being taken seriously.

5. Tell the police. If you feel threatened or a crime has been committed you can speak to the police on 999 in an emergency or 101 at other times.

This is crime which includes prejudice or discrimination. You might be assaulted or have your belongings damaged. Hate crime is where the person focuses on your:

disability

race or ethnicity

religion or beliefs

sexual orientation

gender identity.

It's still a hate crime if someone makes an assumption about your identity. For example, if someone does something because they think you're Muslim.

Hate crime can happen online, in the street, at school, college, work or at home. You might feel frightened, threatened or angry about the abuse. Remember, hate crime is wrong and is never your fault. If you think you may be the victim of hate crime you can report it to the police on 999 in an emergency and 101 at other times.

Facts about hate crime

Race hate crime includes all countries within the UK.

Refugees and asylum seekers can get support if they experience hate crime.

Both majority and minority groups are covered by the law.

There can be an increase in racially or religiously aggravated crimes after incidents like terrorist attacks. Remember, the police are there to protect you.

People can get a longer sentence for hate motivated crime.

A stereotype is an idea or assumption about a group of people. Stereotypes are not based on fact. Instead, stereotypes are based on opinions or feelings. Stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination.

Stereotypes are often negative and assume everyone in a certain group is the same or acts the same way. All groups are made up of people who have different personalities, strengths and weaknesses.

Being treated differently because of a stereotype, like someone assuming your sexuality based on the clothes you wear, is a type of discrimination. Even when the assumption isn't true it's still discrimination. Discrimination can also happen through someone you know, like not being able to access a shop with a family member who is disabled.

Everyone makes assumptions and your views are influenced by the opinions of your family, friends, community and the media. The opinions you hear a lot can have a big effect on what you believe and you might not question them.

You may not be aware of the assumptions that you make. Try listening to other views by talking to people outside of your social group at school or college, talking on the message boards or searching for information online that you wouldn't normally look for.

Prejudice is having a biased or unfair opinion about a group of people which isn't based on fact. Prejudice could be against a certain ethnicity, young or old people, men, women, people with religious beliefs, people who don't have a religion, or people with a disability.

A person who doesn't want a certain group of people living near them is showing prejudice.

Sometimes bullying includes discrimination, like if someone picks on you because of your race or sexuality. Sometimes people discriminate without realising what they're doing, like making racist jokes or calling someone insulting names. Whether it's done on purpose or not, bullying and discrimination is always wrong.

Harassment is behaviour which frightens you and causes you distress or alarm. You might experience unwanted phone calls, broken windows or online abuse and feel humiliated, offended or threatened.

You can be harassed by a stranger or by someone you know. There needs to be 2 or more incidents by the same person or group of people to be classed as harassment.

If you think you're being harassed because of your disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation, you can report it to the police as a hate crime.

Watch: Women's Rights ft. Candysomething

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What you can do Tell someone what's happening. This could be your teacher or your manager at work. They can help to make changes or support you. Follow policies or guidelines. Your school or employer have a duty to protect you from. discrimination. Find out about their discrimination policy so that you can report what's happened.

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It's illegal to treat people differently because of their race or culture. If it happens to you, remember - no one has the right to make you feel bad or abuse you for who you are.

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Young People’s Resource Hub - Stop Hate UK

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Welcome to the Young People’s Online Hate Resource Hub At Stop Hate UK we recognise the impact that online hate can have on individuals and communities. We work to reduce it and create a better online environment by increasing understanding of how and why it is important to know the harmful effects…

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Need help after crime?

Get in touch anytime for independent, free, and confidential advice:

In an emergency you should always call 999.

Our services are confidential. We will only share information about you without your consent if we're concerned about your, or someone else's safety, or if we're required to by law. Read our privacy policy.

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Victim Support is the independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.

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Report in Anti-Muslim Hate or Islamophobia

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Tell MAMA supports victims of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate. You can report in anti-Muslim hate to Tell MAMA & we will provide casework, one to one, emotional support & legal referrals.

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True Vision is is a police-funded web site designed to provide you with information about Hate Crime.

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Homophobic and transphobic bullying can include:

making comments about your gender or sexuality that deliberately make you uncomfortable

calling you names or teasing you

hitting, punching or hurting you

making sexual comments or asking you sexual questions

ignoring you or excluding you

making comments about you online.

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Homophobic and transphobic bullying can include: making comments about your gender or sexuality that deliberately make you uncomfortable calling you names or teasing you hitting, punching or hurting you making sexual comments or asking you sexual questions ignoring you or excluding you making comments about you online.

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Galop works with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence in the UK

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Are you aged 25-64 years old and due your Cervical smear?

People are eligible for cervical screening if they have a cervix, and are aged between 25 and 64. It is important that you are registered with a GP and you should have received a letter inviting you to book a cervical screening test. If it has been longer than 3 years since your last test, You know you are overdue, or you are between the ages of 25 and 64, have a cervix and have never had a test then you can book an appointment with your GP practice or sexual health service.
Appointments are available at most of our sexual health services across York and North Yorkshire. (Monkgate York, Selby Hospital, The Mulberry Unit, Northway in Scarborough, Malton Hospital, Sexual Health at Harewood Medical practice and Mowbray House GP practice in Northallerton)
See our latest news feature for more detail. You can contact our booking line on 01904 721111

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Are you aged 25-64 years old and due your Cervical smear? People are eligible for cervical screening if they have a cervix, and are aged between 25 and 64. It is important that you are registered with a GP and you should have received a letter inviting you to book a cervical screening test.

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Sexual Health & Wellbeing - Brook - Fighting for healthy lives

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Brook is the only national charity to offer both clinical sexual health services, education & wellbeing services for young people, plus training & support for professionals.

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Sex and Relationships Advice for Young People | The Mix

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Explore honest, youth-led advice on sex, relationships, consent, dating, and break-ups. No judgment—just real talk to help you make informed choices.

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Our site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more here

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4 tips to ask someone out:

Spend more time with them to see if you both get along.

Find out more about them to see if you have similar interests.

Choose a time when you're both free to talk and are alone if you're embarrassed to talk to them with others around.

You don't have to ask them out, you could ask them to hang out or go to the park.

Check out our message boards for advice from other people in similar situations.

It isn't illegal to have a relationship with someone older or younger than you, but there is a legal age for sex, to protect young people.

When you're 16 you can legally have sex with someone aged 16 or older, as long as you both agreed to do this and gave your consent.

It's illegal to have sex with someone under the age of 16. This includes oral sex and sharing sexual messages.

If you're under the age of 18, it's illegal for anyone to take, have or pressure you for a sexual photo of you, including sharing sexual images.

Even if you're over 16, it can be illegal for someone to have sex with you if they work with you in a professional way, like a teacher.

Remember, in relationships, one person might have more sexual experience. This can sometimes make the other person feel pressure to do things they don't want to, or say yes when they don't fully understand what's being asked.

It's important that you're comfortable with anything you do and that you understand and consent to any sexual activity.

Dating someone older or younger can feel exciting, and you might be attracted to their maturity, confidence or independence. Or you might see them as more trusting or fun than people your age.

These might feel like positive reasons to start a relationship but they could affect how equal you feel, or how the relationship works.

When one person has more experience, knowledge, money or material things, it can sometimes feel like they have more power in the relationship or should make more of the decisions.

Remember, in a healthy relationship both of you should have an equal say in what you do together and any decisions you make.

Having a big age gap can make it more difficult sometimes to find places to go together. There might be things like certain films you can't go to see at the cinema together, or you might like different types of music.

If one of you is aged 18 or older, going to places with age restrictions, like bars and clubs, could be a problem.

You might be in situations where you feel pressure to go to places you're not comfortable with, or do things you're not ready to do.

Sometimes your friendship groups might not mix easily, or your family might not approve. It can be difficult to be with your partner's friends if you can't easily join in with things they do. You might be tempted to try to hide the relationship from others because you're worried how they might react.

If you're younger, you might not be able to drink alcohol, drive a car or stay out overnight. If you're the older one, you might be too old to go to the youth club or uncomfortable hanging around in the park.

If one person is working or has more money, they might make decisions about the things you do together. They may also feel frustrated if the other person can't afford to do things they want to do.

It might be difficult to understand their partner needing to study or feeling under pressure because of exams

When there's an age gap, there might be different expectations about the relationship and about the future. It's important to talk about what you want from the relationship and be clear about what your aims and hopes are for the future.

It can be really hard to break up with someone, especially if you're not sure if it's the right thing to do. But there are ways to make it easier.
5 things to consider:

Try to tell your boyfriend or girlfriend face to face. You might want to do this in a quiet place where you can talk without being disturbed.

Try not to break up by text or online - your message could be shared with lots of other people and this could make things hard for you.

Tell your boyfriend or girlfriend why you want to end the relationship.

If you don't want to be friends, don't promise that you will be. It could hurt them more if you lie.

Try to get your stuff back from them if you have given them house keys, money, travel cards or other important things.

If you're scared about what would happen if you tried to end your relationship, speak to an adult you trust or get support.

It's really upsetting if you're the one who has been broken up with, and it can take time to get over it.

It can sometimes feel difficult to deal with a break-up. But it's important to remember that things can change. In the days and weeks after a break-up it can still be hard to accept and you could feel hurt and let down. Many people feel different after a while and you could meet someone else in the future.

5 ways to help you cope:

Talk about how you feel with someone you trust.

Talk to one of our counsellors for support.

Check out the relationships message board and get support from other young people who might be in a similar situation as you.

Focus on things that make you feel happy, like spending time with friends and doing hobbies.

Take time to think about what is important to you and how you want things to be in the future. Try to express your feelings and draw how you want things to be.

Worried about a friend's relationship?

It can be difficult if you're worried about your friend. You might not know what to say or they might be secretive about what's been happening. We often hear from people who tell us:

'my friend's boyfriend is treating her badly'

'my friend's girlfriend is always teasing him and putting him down'

'my friend is in a relationship with someone who is much older'

'my friend is being forced to have sex'.

If you're worried about a friend, you don't have to cope on your own. Read our advice about helping a friend.

Lots of young people have crushes on teachers or feelings for them and this is normal. The important thing to remember is that acting on these feelings or having a relationship with a teacher is wrong.

It can be hard when you have feelings for someone like a teacher and you realise that you can't be together. But it's important to remember that these feelings will go away and it would be wrong to act on your feelings.

It's wrong because your teacher is in a position of trust and it's against the law for them to have any kind of personal relationship with a student who is under the age of 18. They could go to prison for having a relationship with a student.

It's a teacher's responsibility to work with you in a strictly professional way. This means that at all times they are a teacher and you are a student. If you left school or if the teacher worked at a different school, it would still be seen as wrong and unprofessional.

If you felt pressured by a teacher to do anything which you felt uncomfortable or unsure about, you should talk to a counsellor.

The internet can be a great way to meet new people. Some people find it easier to talk online. And it can help you say how they feel more openly.

But sometimes it can be hard to know who you're talking to. They might not be who they say they are. It's important to understand the dangers of talking to someone you don't know and make sure you stay safe online.

Try to remember:

don't share your personal info or photos

be aware of your digital footprint - what photos and info is on the internet already

don't meet up with them unless it's in a public place and you have a friend with you

trust your instincts. Be careful of things that seem to good to be true, or too much of a coincidence.

It's not okay for someone to pressure you online. Find out more about online grooming.

It can be really hard if your family doesn't like your boyfriend, girlfriend or someone you fancy. Or if they stop you from being with someone.

It can make you feel sad, angry, confused or isolated, but there are things you can do to help:

Find out why they think this way
Your family might not agree with the relationship because of their behaviour, age, race, gender, religion or because of other reasons.

Talk to your parents about how you feel
See if you can work things out together.

Ask someone you trust for help
You could speak to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher or someone else.

Talk to us
Speak to one of our counsellors who are here to give advice and support.

Questioning your sexuality is normal. It's okay to be confused about who you're attracted to, or whether you're attracted to anyone. When you are confused it can make you feel alone, but we're here to support you.

If you're struggling to understand your sexuality, try:

looking at our information on sexuality

talking about it, you could speak to a friend you trust or ask other young people for support on our message boards

not putting pressure on yourself, it can take time to understand your feelings

expressing your feelings using our Art box.

There's no right or wrong way to feel when it comes to your sexuality. If you're worried about how other people might react or you just want to talk, try speaking to a Childline counsellor.

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4 tips to ask someone out: Spend more time with them to see if you both get along. Find out more about them to see if you have similar interests. Choose a time when you're both free to talk and are alone if you're embarrassed to talk to them with others around.

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Relationships can have an extremely positive impact on our lives - support, trust and love are some of the best parts of a healthy relationship. However, from personal experience, establishing a healthy relationship isn't always easy, and unhealthy relationships can have a negative impact on our mental health.

I hope that I can share some advice to support anybody who may be struggling with the challenges of dating.

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Tips for Dating and Building Healthy Relationships

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Laura, 24, shares her dating tips on looking after your mental health, feeling confident in yourself, and coping with the pressure to be in a relationship.

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Guns and knives can cause serious injury or even death. People who carry guns or knives may not ever plan to use them or hurt anyone. But they may find themselves in a situation that gets out of control.

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24% of 16-25 year olds experiencing homelessness are LGBTQ+. We provide vital services to support LGBTQ+ young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.