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Get help

Support, information and resources for young people. We have listed areas we think you might need help with, covering national support/helplines and services local to you.

Remember to call 999 straight away if there is an emergency happening or you are in a dangerous situation.

Reporting violence, crime or abuse

In an emergency call 999. After the event, call the police’s non-emergency line on 101 or report the crime online.

Crimestoppers – report a crime or incident anonymously

Fearless Anonymously report a crime or violent incident affecting young people.

Report ItReport a hate crime online

Report child abuse through the NSPCC

Speak to a trusted adult, such as in your family, delivery partner, school, college, community group, youth group or sports club.

Support for victims (yourself or someone you know)

Victim Support England and Wales

Victim Support Scotland

Victim Support Northern Ireland

Rape Crisis will help anyone who has experienced sexual violence

Women’s Aid have a live chat online for anyone who needs help or advice, or is worried about someone – relating to abuse and domestic abuse.

 

Find a local victim support service near you:

Speak to a trusted adult, such as in your family, delivery partner, school, college, community group, youth group or sports club.

Victim Support England and Wales: support near you.

Victim Support Scotland: locations for support.

Women’s Aid have an online directory of local domestic abuse services across the UK.

Mental health support

Samaritans – Confidential support 24/7 for anybody

SHOUT – Free mental health text support service for young people in crisis

  • Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the crisis line.
  • If you are under 19 text “YM” to 85258

The Mix – Essential support for under 25s

Papyrus – Confidential suicide prevention advice for young people

Childline – For children who are worried about anything, anytime

Black Minds Matter UK – Connecting Black individuals and families with free mental health services

YoungMinds – A charity making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

 

Get mental health support near you:

Speak to your GP, school or college mental health professional or counsellor or a trusted adult about support or a referral.

The Mix can help you find local services who can help support you with all sorts of issues you may be facing, including mental health and wellbeing.

Youth Access can help you find local services for support with issues you may be facing, such as: home-life & relationships, mental health & wellbeing, suicide & self-harm.

Drugs and alcohol support

Frank – Honest information about drugs

With You – Free, confidential support with drugs, alcohol and mental health, and for people struggling with addiction.

The Mix – Information and support about drink and drugs

 

Find support about drugs and alcohol near you:

Speak to your GP, school or college mental health professional or counsellor or a trusted adult.

The Mix can help you find local services who can help support you with all sorts of issues you may be facing, including drugs & alcohol, legal & rights.

Youth Access can help you find local services for support with issues you may be facing, such as: alcohol, drugs & debt, money & debt, crime & youth justice.

Youth services

Going along to a youth group near you is a great way to meet other young people, get support and try new things. Some centres have groups for all young people, others have groups focussed on sports, music, support with life and learning, and more. Have a look at the centre nearest you and see what’s on.

Find a youth group near you:

Onside Youth Zones. Find an Onside Youth Zone close to you here.

If you’re in London, use London Youth’s online map to find your nearest youth club or activity centre.

UK Youth have a map of hundreds of youth organisations. Find any that are near you in their Map of our Movement

Search your local council’s website for youth clubs.

Online safety

Report Harmful Content – Information about online harms, how to report them and when to go to the police

Childnet – Help, advice and resources about navigating the online world for 11 to 18 year olds.

Report online child sexual abuse to the Internet Watch Foundation through their online form

Report Remove will help you remove a nude image shared online.

NSPCC – Online safety resources for children and young people. Report abuse seen on or offline:

Police, the law and legal information and support

Just for Kids Law – They help children and young people overcome all the difficulties they face, from problems at school and issues with immigration status to trouble with the police.

Independent Office for Police Conduct – make a complaint if the police force or police officers have treated you or someone you know unlawfully, unfairly or they acted inappropriately.

Streetwise Law A lawyer giving advice to young people about how to stay safe when interacting with the police.

Stop WatchA stop and search guide for parents and children and a short, educational film.

Y Stop A stop and search project by and for young people.

 

Find legal support near you:

The Mix can help you find local services for support with legal rights.

Youth Access can help you find local services for support with: crime & youth justice, equality & unfair treatment, immigration & asylum support.

Employment support

Find out about different NHS careers in healthcare, and how you can get into them:

Catch 22 – Resources and support for getting into work or training in a role that suits you here.

Prince’s Trust offer a wealth of employment support, training and opportunities here.

 

Find employment support near you:

National Careers Servicefind an apprenticeship near you

Find employability support from Catch 22 near you by choosing the ‘Employability support’ filter here.

Find Prince’s Trust employability support programmes near you here.

Youth Access can help you find local services for support with: employment, education, money, debt.

Further first aid training and information

Refresh and share knowledge from StreetDoctors sessions with #YoungLifesavers first aid

Drugs first aid: How to help your friend if they have overdosed or are struggling with drugs from The Mix

Join St John’s Ambulance Cadets (ages 10-17) to learn first aid skills and become a volunteer. Website here.

Red Cross have more resources to learn first aid skills on their website.

Find out about different NHS careers in healthcare, and how you can get into them:

If you would like to find information or support on topics that are not listed, please see The Mix and Youth Access, who have databases of information about all sorts of topics.