Where Can You Reach Out To Get Help If Your Child Is A Victim
When something terrible happens, very often you’re in shock and it is not easy to think straight. You may feel helpless, and feel as if there is no one out there that will understand what you and your child is going through. What about help? Where do you go and who do you turn to?
There is a lot of help out there and we will point you in the right direction to get this help.
REACH OUT 1 – LET US CONNECT YOU WITH ORGANISATIONS THAT CAN HELP YOUR CHILD
Our L.I.P Help Guide 16 lists many charitable organisations that you can turn to for help. All you have to do is click on the link below which will take you to Help Guide 16 then find the topic you need. If you click on the topic a list of organisations will appear. When you click on the organisation you will be taken to their website.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.
REACH OUT 2 – CONTACT THE NSPCC
The NSPCC is a free charity based platform to help parents with any worries and concerns they have about their children.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US
REACH OUT 3 – CHILDLINE
Childline is open to discuss any issue that a child has. If your child has suffered from a crime, harassment or bullying or any issue for that matter, and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CHILDLINE – CONTACT US
REACH OUT 4 – CONTACT FAMILY LIVES
Family lives was previously known as parentline. You can speak to them about any concerns that you have regarding your children.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US
REACH OUT 5 – YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY COULD HELP YOUR CHILD
You would be amazed at how much help is available with regards to safeguarding children, helping child victims and all other aspects concerning child welfare. Your local authority website will direct you to the type of help available.
- Advocacy – If you need someone to speak up for your child
- Violence against women and girls services
- Counselling support services
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
REACH OUT 6 – YOUR GP
Please do not underestimate how much your GP practice can help you. They have the power to refer your child to organisations, make the police and local authority aware of your child’s situation and above all record what has happened to your child.
If you have nowhere to turn, please at least go and talk to your GP.
REACH OUT 7 – THE POLICE
If you believe what has happened to your child is a crime, then you must report the incident(s) to the police.
You can dial 999 if a child is at risk or a crime has been committed. The police will visit you and take all the details. You can also visit the station and report the crime face to face. Alternatively if there is no emergency you can dial 101 or file a report online.
LINK TO POLICE WEBSITE TO REPORT A CRIME ONLINE
The police will issue you with a crime reference number.
Once the police have issued a crime reference number they will ask a victim support organisation to contact you and your child within 2 days.
The victim and witness information support website will give you and your child all the contacts that could help you in your local area.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR VICTIM AND WITNESS SERVICES
REACH OUT 8 – CRIMESTOPPERS
You can report a crime anonymously to crimestoppers. Their telephone number is 0800 555 111.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CRIMESTOPPERS.
REACH OUT 9 – VICTIM SUPPORT
Victim support is a charity that can help individuals who have been the victim of a crime or a traumatic event whether it has been reported to the police or not. If you are a witness to a crime you can also call victim support. They have a free confidential support telephone line and live chat.
TELEPHONE HELPLINE
Anyone can call the helpline number. The number is 08 08 16 89 111.
ONLINE