Everyone has the right to be safe and everyone has a responsibility to help you.
All children and young people have the right to be protected and kept safe from harm.
Here are some places where you can get help
- Childline
Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they're going through. Whether it's something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. Click on the links below for further information. You can also chat online, just go to their website and click on the Chat Online Button.
www.childline.org.uk - Children of all ages and young people can speak on the phone or use 1-2-1 Chat any time of the day or night. They can send emails at any time and these will be answered in the 24 hour time frame. For any children with a hearing impairment, the Deaf Zone is an additional resource on the website.
www.childline.org.uk/kids - for children under 12, visit this page.
How to contact Childline video is here
Childline Scotland 0800 1111
- Young Scot
Young People can find information if they are feeling anxious or worried and how you can support others in your community as well as what's going on in the area i.e. Helpful contacts, news, what’s on and discounts etc.
Young Scot and Scottish Government have launched a new resource developed in partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid. This resource – called #ThatsNotOK – provides young people with information about different forms of gender-based violence, healthy relationships and consent, and signposts where they get additional support.
Young Scot - That's Not OK new resource
- Internet Safety
CEOP is here to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. You can make a report directly to the CEOP Safety Centre by clicking on the Click CEOP button if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online. CEOP take all reports seriously and we will do everything we can to keep you safe.
As well as making a report to the CEOP Safety Centre, the CEOP Education website has information and advice to help you if something has happened to you online.Are you being bullied?
CEOP are unable to respond to reports about bullying but if you’re being bullied and would like to talk to someone in confidence right now you can speak to Childline on 0800 1111 or talk to them online – no worry is too big or too small.Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) have a website you can visit to get loads of advice on keeping yourself safe about Gaming, using Mobiles, and being Online.
- CEOP Education - The CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse. You will find lots of helpful information on this site.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/4_7 - Thinkuknow is linked to CEOP and gives lots of help and information for different age groups. This link is for ages 4 to 7.
- UK Safer Internet Centre
- Swiggle - Child Friendly Search Engine
Here is a short film to promote our VSVS (Virtually Safe Virtually Sound) day. This event was held at Aith Junior High School (file prepared by Youth Services). VSVS events are held in all Junior High Schools every second year.
- CEOP Education - The CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse. You will find lots of helpful information on this site.
- Bullying?
"You don’t have to like me, agree with me or enjoy the same things I do…but you do have to respect me."
Bullying could be verbal, physical or social, online or offline and is unwanted behaviour. It includes actions such as threats, spreading rumors or physically attacking someone. If you or someone you know is being bullied, more information can be found by clicking on these links:
kidscape - providing practical support, training, and advice to challenge bullying and protect young lives.
Respect me - Scotland's Anti Bullying Service
Find other contacts for children and young people about Bullying
or watch this video about what you could do to feel more like yourself: Respect me - Bullying - What can I do?
- Young Minds - Mental Health Support
Whether you want to understand more about how you're feeling, get information about a mental health condition or find support, our guides can help. If you need help speaking to someone, start with our guide to reaching out for help.
Your feelings are valid and things can get better.
Mental Health Support For Young People | YoungMinds
What's on YoungMinds?
A mental health podcast by and for young people.Join us for honest conversations with young people that shed light on the challenges and triumphs of navigating mental health, getting support and finding joy along the way.
- Advocacy and Participation Worker - Who Cares? Scotland
Who Cares? Scotland are a national organisation providing advocacy and participation activities to looked after children and care experienced young people. The service is confidential and totally independent of statutory services like social work and care providers. Advocates are on the side of the child or young person and are not involved in making any decisions about them. An advocate is there to help young folk speak up as an individual or a group.
We have 2 workers in Shetland;
Siân Wild [email protected] 07974370714 and
Rachel Hewitt [email protected] 07849090687An advocate supports children and young people by:
- Listening to them and making sure they understand their situation
- Providing information about their rights
- Supporting them to express their views or speaking on their behalf
- Helping them to prepare for and participate in meetings, children’s hearings and reviews
- Supporting them to share concerns or make complaints
- Helping them to access services
- Providing activities and groups that they can take part to meet other children and young people with similar experiences, build confidence and develop relationships.
- Domestic Abuse – There’s No Excuse!
Domestic abuse in a household can have a big impact on the children and young people in a family. Domestic abuse can happen in any family and can happen to men as well as women. For help and advice visit our page on Domestic Abuse & GBV for Children and Young People.
Childline Scotland - If you feel anxious you don't have to cope alone.
Voice Against Violence | Tackling domestic abuse through the voice of the young - Voice Against Violence are a group of young people with direct experience of domestic abuse who are working with the Scottish Government and Local Authorities to tackle domestic abuse and improve the lives of children.
18U - Home - 18U provides information and support to young people who have been abused in any way. You can visit in person in Dundee, by, phone on Facebook, text, WhatsApp, snapchat or I-Message.
LGBT Youth Scotland | LGBT Youth Scotland - LGBT Youth Scotland’s website provides information on identifying domestic abuse and what to do in a crisis. LGBT Youth Scotland is the largest youth and community-based organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Scotland.
- Sex and Relationships
The Awkward Moments work is to provide support for young people aged 16 to 19 and increase confidence to start the important conversations about positive and mutual consent.
Thinkuknow - Lets Talk about Sex - Information for young people on sex and relationships
Looking for advice? - LoveRespect - All the info you need to spot unhealthy behaviour, and what to do about it.
The Compass Centre - free inclusive, and confidential support and information to anyone, of any gender (age 13+), in Shetland affected by any form of sexual violence. This includes survivors, as well as family, friends, and supporters.
- OPEN Peer Mentoring Project
[email protected]
01595 745074
https://linktr.ee/theopenproject ßlink tree to our social media.The OPEN Project strives to enable young people to achieve their full potential and gain the skills and confidence to take control of their pathway, through providing guidance, support, and encouragement in a safe and understanding environment.
Peer Mentoring – OPEN provides training and support for young people aged 16-25 to become Peer Mentors to support other young people aged 14-21 to identify and work towards a series of personal goals. These goals can be around building confidence or working towards applying for jobs, Uni etc.
Peer Education – OPEN provides training and support for young people aged 16-25 to create, design and deliver issues based workshops to other young people in the community. Most of these workshops will be delivered in Schools to S1 to S4 classes. Some issues covered are Online Safety, Drugs, Alcohol, Sexual Health, Positive Relationships, Mental Health.
Da Café – OPEN works with young people to open a youth space called Da Café two nights per week in the Olive Tree at Bolts Shopping Centre, Lerwick. This space is where young people 14-25 can meet with and socialise with their peers and get a free refreshments.
OPEN Board – We have a group of young people 16-29 making up our Governing body. OPEN’s Board set the vision and strategic direction of our project. As our project is Youth-led and we work for the benefit of all young people, we felt that it would be pointless having our board made up of adults, when there are many capable young people that can do the role perfectly! OPEN have also set up a group of adult Board Mentors, who can be called on to give advice or information to the board if they are unsure on a particular topic.
- Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland site has some information about children’s rights in a time of crisis and a number of helpful links to resources
Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland - Children's Human Rights
Equal Protection from Assault Act
On 7th November 2020 the law in Scotland changed. This means that no adult has the right to physically punish a child - this means hitting, smacking, skelping and pinching (but it can mean other forms of physical punishment too)