If abuse is happening at home, you probably want it to stop but you might not be sure what you can do. The first thing is to tell someone what is going on. You might be able to talk to the person who is being hurt. If not, you could try talking to a teacher, a neighbour, a friend or a friend’s parent, etc.
You can contact us or speak to one of the helplines who will be able ot help:
Skye and Lochalsh – 01478 613365 or 07848023277
Ross-shire Shire – 01349 863568
Childline 0800 1111
Runaway helpline 0808 800 70
Remember, domestic abuse is not your fault. You won’t get into trouble for telling someone.
If people are fighting, should I stop them?
If there’s violence in your home, it’s important that you stay safe when there’s a fight. Sometimes you might feel like you have to stop the fight and protect the parent who’s being hurt. This can be very dangerous and puts you at risk of getting hurt yourself.
If you are scared when there is a fight, you can always call 999 and ask for the police – they will come to your house at any time of the day.
It’s helpful if you can tell a friend or grown-up you trust about the abuse at home. This way, if there’s an emergency you can phone them and they’ll know about what’s going on in your home.
Who will help me and my family?
In an emergency, for example if there is a fight, you can always call 999 and ask for the police.
At any time, the person who’s being abused can get help from us. If your mum is being abused and it is too dangerous to stay at home, you and your brothers and sisters can go with her to a refuge. A refuge is a safe house where you can go to escape abuse at home. Refuges are normally for women and their children. You will stay in the refuge until things can be sorted for you and your family to go back home safely or find a new home.
Why don’t they just leave?
There are many reasons why someone might stay with an abusive partner. It’s possible that:
- They may still love their partner.
- They hope their partner will change and the violence will stop.
- They don’t want to take their children away from the other parent.
- They don’t have the money to leave.
- They don’t feel strong enough to leave.
- They don’t know where else to go.
Just like you they might feel mixed-up about what’s happening, the person being abused might also feel confused about what to do. If you have questions about what’s going on, don’t be afraid to ask.