Young People

What is Safeguarding?

Every child and young person has a right to be safe. Safeguarding means keeping you safe from any type of harm or neglect.

All adults have a responsibility to protect you and it is the role of your parents or carers and adults such as teachers, learning mentors, doctors, nurses, social workers, police officers, faith leaders and sports coaches to ensure that you are safe. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, whether you are at home, school or are chatting online, you have the right to grow up safe from people hurting you or failing to ensure that you are cared for.

If you are worried about something that is happening to you or someone you know, you don’t have to deal with it on your own – visit the Childline website for advice (Childline is not just for young children!)

According to the law, there are 4 main types of abuse that could cause harm or neglect. These are:

• physical abuse: when an adult deliberately hurts a child, such as hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning or suffocating.
• emotional abuse: this would happen, for example, when a child is being unfairly blamed for everything all the time; or told they are stupid and made to feel unhappy.
• sexual abuse: an example of sexual abuse would be where a child is forced to take part in sexual activities; or in taking rude photos.
• neglect: this is when a child is not being looked after properly; for example, not getting enough to eat, or being left alone in dangerous situations.

More information about what abuse can look like and how to keep safe can be found below and on the NSPCC website.

A great guide written by young people who have experienced abuse or neglect can be found on the SCIE website