If you tell us that you're being abused, hurt or treated badly, and tell us that it’s also happening to your younger brother, sister or other young person, we'll want to do something to keep you all safe. Sometimes this means telling someone like an adult who could help you. For example, the police, ambulance or social services, so that you can get help and support.
Examples of when we'll need to break confidentiality or tell someone about your situation to get you help:
- ‘My dad threw my 3 year old brother across the room.’
- ‘My mum is not feeding my young sister who is 2 years old.’
- ‘I am 10 and my younger brother has been left at home all night by himself. He’s 4.’
- ‘My older brother left a bottle of vodka in his room and my six year old younger sister has been drinking it.'
- ‘I’m being sexually abused by my father and I also think it’s happening to my younger sister, she’s three.’
- ‘My grandfather had sex with me and he also had sex with my sister who has a learning difficulty, she’s got down's syndrome.'
We'll be here for you and we want to support you and your brothers or sisters. Sometimes this means telling someone even if you don’t want us to. We'll do this to keep you safe and help you in the best way.
We'll always try to tell you if we need to tell someone else. If we can't reach you after and you've contacted us online, we'll try to contact you afterwards to tell you what's happened. If you're worried, you can always talk to a Childline counsellor.