Children and Young People: 5-11

CRASAC can help you if you are being sexually abused now or have been in the past or if someone you know  has been sexually abused. We will always believe and support you. 

What is sexual abuse? 

When a child or young person is made to take part in something sexual with an adult or another young person. This can be: 

Kissing -Being made to look at sexual photos or videos - Sexual texts - Touching of private parts (like genitals or breasts) - Someone putting their private parts on your body or inside your body - Being made to watch others touch their private parts (via the phone or internet or in the same room) -  Sex (whatever this means to you) - Forced marriage - Female genital mutilation or cutting.

Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or confused and you do not want to do means that you need to let someone know. We know it is very difficult to talk but we can help. Watch this video from Childline on what calling a helpline might be like. 

Grooming 

Grooming is a word which describes the ways an abuser will gain your trust in order to abuse you or make you feel that you are to blame for abuse. Abuse is never your fault. Abusers sometimes get people to trust them by treating them and giving them special attention. They may also make it a special secret or say that bad things will happen if that young person tells anyone. CRASAC can help by talking to you in confidence about your worries. 

Safe People or Ways of Telling

We know how hard it is to tell and only you will know who you might feel safe enough to talk to. There are many ways of letting someone know what is happening or has happened to:

You can:

• Talk to your parent or carer
• Ring our helpline anonymously and talk about your worries about telling 
• Text or email our helpline 
• Talks to a friend's parent or carer
• Talk to a teacher, mentor, buddy or youth worker
• Contact Childline 0800 1111

It's ok not to know what to say, we understand. 

If you do decide to tell and nothing seems to change then find somebody else to tell. It does not mean that you are not believed. It is important that you get the help you need and deserve. Don't give up.