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I Don’t Need This Abuse
Abuse, Useful contacts
Abuse
What if someone is doing, or has done something to you that you think is out of order? What if someone is saying, doing something or getting you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, mixed up or upset?
Abuse ranges from someone giving you a hard time, or making you feel uneasy about something, to serious physical and sexual assault.
People who are being abused often feel:
| |  | powerless | | | | confused about how they feel | | | | guilty at the thought of telling someone | | | | ashamed they can't stop it from happening |
Abusers want you to feel like this because it stops you from changing things. Remember the abuser isn't as powerful as they want you to think.
You can change what is happening. Two organisations that can help are:
| | | social services (Children's Social Care)
| | | | the police |
Both these organisations can help you stop the abuse and ensure you are protected from the abuser.
Before talking to an organisation, or an individual, it’s worth checking what they will do with what you tell them. This means checking things like their confidentiality policy. This way you can make your own choice about what to tell people and when.
You may find it useful to call helplines to find out information and get support without giving personal details (such as your name or where you live). A good way to start is to simply say you would like to talk.
Useful contacts
NSPCC Child Protection www.nspcc.org.uk – call the 24 hour helpline for information, advice and support for anyone concerned about the risk of abuse to themselves or others on 0808 800 5000
Somerset Social Services (Children's Social Care) - for local offices phone 0845 3459122 or see Your Town/Area on this site. In an emergency, outside of office hours, contact the emergency team on 01458 253241 or through a police station.
The Hideout www.thehideout.org.uk – help for children and young people who are living with violence, have experienced violence in the past or know someone else going through it.
Victim Support www.victimsupport.com - confidential support to people who have experienced rape, sexual assault or crime (including support through the criminal justice system). Helpline: 0845 30 30 900 or call Victim Support Somerset on 01460 55535
Survivors UK www.survivorsuk.org - telephone and face to face support for men who have been raped or sexually abused. Call: 0845 1221201
Childline www.childline.org.uk - 24 hours help line for children and young people in trouble or danger. Call free on 0800 1111.
Women's Aid National Domestic Violence www.womensaid.org.uk - for anyone who is experiencing (or has experienced) physical, emotional or sexual violence in the home. Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Refuge www.refuge.org.uk - 24 hour crisis line providing counselling, support and welfare rights advice for women and children escaping domestic violence. Call 0808 2000 247
Everyman Project www.everymanproject.co.uk - counselling, support and advice to men who are violent or concerned about their violence (or anyone affected by that violence). Call 020 7263 8884
What if someone is doing, or has done something to you that you think is out of order? What if someone is saying or doing something or getting you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, mixed up or upset? It could be that you are being abused.
Abuse ranges from someone giving you a hard time or making you feel uneasy about something, to serious physical and sexual assault.
People who are being abused often feel powerless, confused about how they feel, guilty at the thought of telling someone or ashamed that they couldn't stop it from happening. This is what abusers want you to feel because it stops you from changing things.
Often the abuser isn't as powerful as they want you to think. You can change what is happening, and there are people you can talk to.
You can go straight to Social Services (Children's Social Care) or the police, who can help you stop the abuse and ensure you are protected from the abuser. However you might want to know what your options are, before talking in detail to someone. You can do this by checking out with people what they will do if someone tells them about abuse, before talking to them about yourself.
This way you can make your own choice about what to tell people and when. You may find it useful to phone helplines to find out information and get some support without giving personal details like your name or where you live. Perhaps a good way to start is just to say that you would like to talk.
Useful contacts
NSPCC Child Protection 0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk
24 hour helpline offering information, advice and support to anyone concerned about the risk of abuse to themselves or others.
Social Services (Children's Social Care) (for local offices phone 0845 3459122 or see Your Town/Area on this site). In emergency outside of office hours contact The Emergency Duty Team 01458 253241. The Emergency Duty Team can also be contacted through any police station.
The Hideout www.thehideout.org.uk
The Hideout provides help, information and support for children and young people – whether you’re currently living with violence, you’ve experienced violence in the past or if you know someone else going through it and you’re looking for help and information.
Victim Support 0845 30 30 900 www.victimsupport.com
Free confidential support to people who have experienced rape or sexual assault, including support through the criminal justice system.
Victim Support Somerset Helpline 01460 55535
Survivors UK 0845 1221201 www.survivorsuk.org
Telephone and face to face support for men who have been raped or sexually abused (Tuesdays and Thursdays - 7.00pm - 10.00pm).
Childline www.childline.org.uk 0800 1111
Free National helpline (24 hours) for children and young people in trouble or danger.
Women's Aid National Domestic Violence www.womensaid.org.uk
Helpline 0808 2000 247 for anyone who is experiencing (or has experienced) physical, emotional or sexual violence in the home.
Refuge 0808 2000 247 www.refuge.org.uk
24 hour crisis line providing counselling, support and welfare rights advice for women and children escaping domestic violence.
Everyman Project 020 263 8884 www.everymanproject.co.uk
Counselling, support and advice to men who are violent or concerned about their violence, and anyone affected by that violence.
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