There are helplines for children and young people. Suggest to your friend that it might be helpful to have these numbers with them at all times. Your friend can phone these numbers and speak to someone on the other end without having to give their name. You can offer to sit next to your friend while they make the call, or you can phone the helpline to find out what help there is for your friend.
If you find information on the internet that you think would be useful to your friend, make sure you ask them if it’s safe to email them a link before you send it. (Make sure no one else checks their email.)
Make sure your friend knows how to ring 999 in emergencies. Maybe you can walk past the local police station with your friend, so they know where it is.
Talk to your friend about always having credit on their mobile phone or change for a pay phone so that they can call for help in an emergency. Remember that 999 calls are free when dialling from a phone box.
Make a safety plan with your friend. Read more about this in the ‘What Can I do’ section of The Hideout web-site www.thehideout.org.uk
Develop a code word with your friend, so that they can call you in an emergency and you’ll immediately know what’s going on. You should also agree on what your response to the code word is, for example calling the police or calling a neighbour. It’s helpful for you to know your friend’s address and phone number.
Help your friend think up a story or an excuse for emergencies (for example that they have to do homework study with a friend). When they feel they are in danger, they can quickly give that excuse and leave right away.
If your friend is being abused by an adult it is important that you tell an adult you trust straight away. No one deserves abuse and you have the right to be safe from harm. You can call one of the helplines for children and young people listed at the bottom of each page of The Hideout for more advice and support.
In an emergency, please ring the police on 999 for immediate help.
You can also try ringing social services by phoning your local town hall (look in the phone book under your local council) and ask for the duty social worker.
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