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Kooth is a free online space where you can get help with your feelings and mental wellbeing, whenever you need it. You can chat to trained counsellors, read helpful articles, use self help tools, or join moderated forums where young people support each other. You do not have to give your real name and you can use Kooth anonymously, which means you can talk openly and safely about what is on your mind. Kooth is available online every day of the year and is free for all children and young people aged 10 to 18 living in Aberdeenshire, so you can get support at a time that suits you, from anywhere you feel comfortable.
What is Kooth?
Within our Children's Services Plan, a priority is that Aberdeenshire's Care Experienced Young People will have a good, loving childhood, where their needs are met, and outcomes are improved for them through ensuring The Promise is kept.
For more information and to read Aberdeenshire's Corporate Parenting Plan, go to the GIRFEC Webpage.
Rights make sure everyone is treated fairly and given what they need to be safe, healthy and supported. Children and young people have human rights, including additional protections set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), such as the right to education, health care, play and to be protected from harm.
Children’s Rights Officers help young people understand their rights and make sure they are treated fairly. They can support you if you are looked after or living away from home, and help you understand what is happening and why. If you are over 5 years old and are involved in the child protection process, a Children’s Rights Officer can listen to you, support you to share your views, and help make sure adults take what you say seriously.
Find out more at the Children and Young People’s Rights in Child Protection website.
ChildLine — Free & Confidential
ChildLine is there for you any time. You can talk about anything — their counsellors will listen carefully and help you think about the kind of help you need. You can phone, chat online or email at any time on any day.
Sometimes adults aren't able to look after their children, and sometimes they might hurt or harm them. When there is a worry that a young person might not be safe at home, there are people who have the job of offering help and support — they are called professionals and include people like social workers, school nurses, support workers, police officers and teachers. Their job is to make sure that children and young people are cared for and kept safe.
Professionals might want to speak with you and your family to find out what help you all need and how this can be done. It can be difficult to talk to people about what is going on, but try not to worry — professionals are there to help you.
If people are very worried about you, or you speak to a professional (teacher, social worker, police officer, youth leader) about someone hurting you, they might want to find out more information using child protection procedures — a set of instructions about the steps professionals take to keep you safe when they are worried about your safety or wellbeing.
Sometimes adults become concerned that a young person might not be safe or might be experiencing harm. When this happens, the professionals who have a responsibility to keep young people safe — like social workers, police officers, teachers and sometimes health staff — meet to share information and decide what support is needed. This meeting is called an IRD (Initial Referral Discussion).
An IRD is simply a discussion between these professionals to work out the best way to help you stay safe, listened to and supported. You don't attend this meeting.
After this discussion, the adults might decide it would be helpful for you to have a conversation at the Bairns' Hoose — a safe, calm place where specially trained workers talk with young people to understand what has been happening and what support might help.
If you tell an adult — like a teacher, nurse, social worker or someone you trust — that something has happened that made you feel unsafe, upset or uncomfortable, this is called a disclosure.
What happens next?
You aren't in trouble. Telling someone is a brave and important step.
After you speak up, different professionals may talk together — usually Social Work, Police, Health staff and sometimes school staff.
Why are they talking?
These conversations help adults make informed decisions to keep you safe.
Sometimes, after something worrying or upsetting has happened, a child or young person may need to see a doctor or nurse. This is to check that their body is ok and to help them feel safe and cared for. This short video explains who Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service are and how they support children and young people in a calm and respectful way. You can watch the video at your own pace and stop at any time if you need to.
A JII is a structured conversation with trained Social Work and Police interviewers. It lets you explain what happened in your own words, at your own pace.
Where will it happen?
Most interviews take place at the Bairns' Hoose, a calm, trauma-informed space designed to help you feel as comfortable as possible. Sometimes a local safe space is used instead. Adults will think about what space is best for you.
Who can support you?
The person who will interview you will ask you and your parents/carers if you would like to receive support from an Advocacy, Rights and Recovery (ARR) worker before your interview. They can:
They're there to support you and your family emotionally and practically.
During the interview:
What to expect:
This interview helps adults understand how to protect you and what next steps might be needed.
After professionals talk about your situation, if you or your parents ask for further support, this will be offered if you choose to.
What happens?
Support might include:
Support can change as your needs change — you're allowed to ask questions or request different support if things don't feel right.
Sometimes a meeting is held to look at how to keep you safe long-term.
Who's there?
What's the purpose?
Your views matter. Adults should make sure your voice is heard, either directly or through someone speaking on your behalf.
Lots of adults are working together to help you feel safe, listened to, and supported. You can always ask questions about what is happening.
Sometimes the professionals who are responsible for keeping you safe need extra support to make decisions. When that happens, they might go to court. Court is where a judge or sheriff listens to the information and decides what is safest for you.
Do I have to go to court? Most young people don't have to go into a courtroom. If the court needs to hear your views or understand what happened, you'll usually speak to someone in a private, calm room in the Bairns' Hoose instead.
Your interview can be shared with the court so you don't need to be there in person. Giving evidence just means telling the truth about what happened — if you need to do this, someone you trust can be nearby for support.
You haven't done anything wrong. If your situation is going to court, it is not your fault. Adults are using the court to help keep you safe and make sure you get the support you need.
If professionals are very worried about what is happening with you and feel you need to be kept safe, they might arrange a Children's Hearing. The Children's Hearing will ask everyone involved to send a report about what is happening, and they'll be asked to attend a meeting to decide what is best for you.
You have the right to tell the Hearing what you want to happen, and they will listen carefully to this. The Hearing might decide that a Compulsory Supervision Order (CSO) is needed — this is a legal order which tells people how you are to be cared for, where you live and who is to look after you.
You can find out further information about what happens at a Children's Hearing.
Abuse is a phrase we use when children and young people are being hurt by people who should care for them. There are different types of harm that can come under the heading of abuse — sometimes we use different categories as a quick way to help people understand a bit about the kind of things that might be happening to a young person.
Whatever is happening, it is never your fault and there are people who can help.
The Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drugs Support website is a place where you can find information about help with alcohol or drugs. It shows what support is available in Aberdeenshire and how to get help if you need it.
More information:
Bullying can happen anywhere and be about anything. If you're being bullied, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn to make the behaviour stop and to help you manage your feelings. Talking about bullying is an important step in getting help.
Being bullied is never your fault, but sometimes it can feel hard to open up about it.
Find out more about bullying and how to cope with it on the ChildLine website.
Child sexual abuse is when someone does something sexual to a child or young person that is not OK. This can happen in person or online, and it can be done by an adult or by another young person. It might involve touching, being asked to do or see sexual things, sharing images, or being pressured or tricked online.
If something does not feel right, it is important to speak to a trusted adult. You do not need to be sure that something is abuse to ask for help. It is always OK to talk about worries, even if you are confused, unsure, or worried about getting someone into trouble. Speaking up is about keeping you and others safe, not blaming anyone. Many young people find it hard to talk about these things, so adults are there to listen, take you seriously, and help keep you safe.
Further support
Child sexual exploitation is a type of sexual abuse that happens when a child or young person is forced or tricked into sex in exchange for things they may need or want like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection. They are often tricked into believing they're in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming and is a type of abuse. It doesn't always involve physical contact and can also happen online.
Criminal exploitation is when someone tricks pressures or forces a child or young person into doing illegal things for them. This can include carrying drugs or money stealing hiding weapons or doing risky jobs. One common form is called county lines where gangs move drugs from big cities into other towns using dedicated phones and young people are used to carry sell or store drugs.
This can involve being sent away from home staying in unfamiliar places and being controlled by older people. The person exploiting you might act like a friend offer gifts money or attention or use threats to keep control. Children as young as 12 have been targeted in this way.
If this is happening it is not your fault even if it feels like a choice. Under 18s cannot legally choose to be exploited and the responsibility lies with the adults involved. If something does not feel right question what is happening and get support there are people who can help you stay safe and find a way out.
This is when an adult behaves in a way that makes a child or young person feel like they are worthless, unloved and uncared for. They might do things on purpose to make a young person feel anxious, scared, unhappy or inadequate. It can happen at the same time as other types of abuse.
It can be hard for people outside the relationship to see what is happening when someone is being abused emotionally, but it can have a big impact on how young people feel about themselves and the world around them.
FGM, sometimes referred to as female circumcision, is when a girl's genitals are altered or removed. It can cause long-lasting damage as well as ongoing emotional distress. It is illegal in the UK and is a type of abuse.
If you or someone you know think you're in immediate danger of FGM, or being taken abroad for this to happen, you can call the police on 999, or speak to an adult you trust.
Find more information on ChildLine website.
Being forced to marry is not only abuse but it is illegal. Because forced marriage is illegal, it can happen in secret and can also be planned by parents, family or religious leaders. It can make children and young people feel like they have no control — but it's important to talk to someone you trust so you can get help to be safe.
There are lots of fun and interesting things to do on the internet and it can be a great way to stay in touch with friends — but it's important to understand how to stay safe online. Sometimes people will try to trick young people into clicking dangerous links, sharing things about themselves, or use information to bully or frighten them.
It is important not to share personal information on the internet about where you live, the school you go to, or things about you that it might make it easy for someone to find out private things about you. Other types of abuse — such as bullying, sexual abuse and emotional abuse — can happen online.
Find out more at ChildLine and the ThinkUKnow website.
Young people who are being neglected don't have their basic needs met by the people who care for them. It might mean they don't have enough food to eat, or proper clothes for the weather. It might also mean their house isn't clean, warm and safe, or that someone isn't there for them when they need help or care.
It can be hard for young people to think of themselves as being neglected, especially as teenagers might be starting to take some more responsibility for themselves — but they still need, and deserve, to have someone look after them and meet their needs for safety and care.
If you're going through a difficult time or are struggling with how you're feeling, it can be really scary and upsetting. Mental health is about how we think, feel and act. Just like physical health, we all have it and we need to take care of it.
You can find out more on the Mind website and Mental Health Support For Young People | YoungMinds
Social media can be a great place to connect, but it can also show sexist content even if you have not searched for it. This kind of content is not harmless. Three in four girls aged 11 to 16 have seen or experienced sexism in real life, and many say it affects how safe they feel day to day. What might seem like jokes or banter online can shape how people think and act, and it can hurt girls in real life, including people you know.
Young People have more influence than you might realise. When people like, share or comment on sexist posts, it helps them spread. Choosing not to engage makes a difference. Research shows that 68 percent of girls and young women have changed how they behave to avoid sexual harassment, and 86 percent have avoided going out at night to stay safe. Every scroll is a fresh start. Your feed does not define you, and small choices online can help create a safer and more respectful world for everyone.
For more information:
Talking to children and teens about misogyny | Parent Club
You can find out more on the Mind website and Mental Health Support For Young People | YoungMinds
Physical abuse is when someone hits, kicks, punches or physically injures a young person. It also includes being burned, scalded, shaken or choked by a grown up. We might also refer to physical abuse if a parent or carer pretends that their child is unwell and needs medical treatment.
Being in a relationship can be exciting and should make young people feel happy. A healthy relationship is when everyone feels respected, trusted and valued for who they are. In a healthy relationship, someone shouldn't try to control their partner. Controlling or threatening behaviour can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial or psychological.
If a relationship doesn't feel right, it may be time to end it. Even when it feels like a young person needs their relationship, it can still be unhealthy or abusive. There might be one thing that makes them question their relationship, or lots of little things.
You can find out more at ChildLine. You can also read about a young person's experience of coercive control in a relationship.
Self harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose. It is a way that some young people cope with difficult thoughts or feelings, but there are lots of reasons people start. Some people start self-harming after something's happened, like being bullied or abused. Others have said they self-harmed because of things like pressure at school. Sometimes they might not even know why they started.
Whatever is going on, there is someone to help. You can talk to an adult you trust or contact ChildLine.
You can find out more information about self-harm on ChildLine's website — they also have advice on self-harm coping techniques.
Sexual abuse is when someone is forced, tricked or manipulated into sexual activities. Sexual abuse can feel confusing because a young person might think they have given consent, or may have been threatened, forced or manipulated. They might not understand that what's happening is abuse or that it's wrong.
Examples of sexual abuse include:
For more information visit the Sexual abuse | Childline website.
Sexual extortion, sometimes called sextortion, is a type of online blackmail. It happens when someone pressures a young person to share sexual images and then threatens them if they do not do what they are asked, often asking for money. In the UK, boys are most at risk. The Internet Watch Foundation reports that around 97 percent of confirmed child sexual extortion cases involve boys, especially teenagers. This is never your fault, and getting help early can stop things from getting worse.
Signs adults might notice include: • feeling very anxious, low or upset
• becoming secretive about phones, gaming or social media
• being scared to open messages or use devices
• pulling away from friends or family
• worrying about money or asking for money
• changes in sleep, eating or behaviour
• saying you have made a mistake online
If something has happened, Report Remove can help. It is a free service that lets young people report sexual images of themselves so they can be taken down from the internet as quickly as possible. You can use it in confidence and you do not have to go through this alone
For further guidance and support:
Child trafficking is when children or young people are tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes, are moved and then exploited, forced to work or sold. Child trafficking and exploitation are types of abuse.
Children and young people can be trafficked into the UK from other countries and within the UK. Traffickers could work alone, be part of a small group or a large organised group.
Find out more on the Child trafficking | Childline.
It can be difficult to know what to do if you have a friend that is being hurt or they have told you that they are being abused, especially if they have asked you not to tell anyone.
It is important that you tell an adult you trust so they can help. You should still tell someone even if your friend doesn't want to talk to anyone. They might be upset that you told someone but it's the only way you can make sure they are safe.
If you think someone you know is being hurt or is not being looked after properly, it’s important you are able to tell someone, because it might keep happening unless someone is able to help.
You can also tell your friend about ChildLine — their counsellors will listen carefully and help them think about the kind of help they need. Your friend can phone on 0800 1111, chat online or email at any time on any day. The ChildLine website also provides lots of helpful advice.
