"Since I arrived in England I've been staying with much older people because they think i'm 18. But I'm 14, and I need more support than I'm getting." Ravi, 14
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Please note, all identifying details of this webchat have been changed to protect the identity of the young person.
[Poppy] i just wanted to talk to someone because i'm not really ok i'm a bit upset.
[Imogen] I'm sorry to hear that you're upset. You're welcome to talk to me. Why are you upset?
[Imogen] Has something happened today or recently maybe?
[Poppy] yes. it was my uncle that made me upset because he came round my house this morning when i was about to go to school.
[Imogen] OK. And how did your uncle upset you? You're doing really well talking about this.
[Poppy] When he came round this morning he said is your mum in and i said no and he said oh ok and he said am i going to school and i said yes and he said please dont go to school yet its ages since we spent time together cant you stay a bit because i really need some company and someone to talk to and i said i couldnt stay for long because i didnt want to be late for school and he said ok.
[Imogen] Ok. Go on. You're doing really well.
[Poppy] then we started talking and he said stay off today your mum wont mind, i havent seen you in ages and it would be nice to spend some time with you and i tried to say i wanted to go to school but he kept saying things to me and making me feel bad. Then i said i really had to go to school but he said no dont.
[Imogen] Do you want to tell me what he was saying that was worrying you? And how are you feeling while you chat to me - are you OK? Thank you again for sharing this with me.
[Poppy] i am ok i am still upset though and i dont really like talking about it.
[Imogen] That's OK. It sounds as though things have been really difficult and upsetting for you. You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to but if you think it might help, we can just take lots of time and you can tell me a bit more about happened?
[Poppy] he was asking me about my boyfriend and i said i dont want to tell you and he put his hand on my leg and said oh come on you can tell me i'm your uncle you can talk to me about anything. Then i said i dont want to talk about this with you cant we talk about something else and he said no i want to know what hes been doing with my girl.
[Imogen] That sounds really difficult. How were you feeling?
[Poppy] nervous and sick
[Imogen] It sounds so tough. What happened after that?
[Poppy] then he started stroking my leg again so i got up and moved away and i said can you go and he shouted i'm not going anywhere.
[Imogen] I'm still listening. You're doing great explaining all this.
[Poppy] i just stood there crying feeling really bad, then he said come and give me a hug and i said no.
[Imogen] Are you ok to carry on talking to me? It sounds like you've had a really horrible time of things. What happened then?
[Poppy] he hit me. Because he said i wasnt being very nice and then he started touching me and trying to take my clothes off and i couldnt stop him.
[Imogen] You're being really brave telling me this. Do you want to carry on?
[Poppy] i dont no. he hurt me
[Imogen] Nobody has the right to hurt you. There are organisations that may be able to help you. Would you like me to tell you about them?
[Poppy] yes please. thankyou for letting me talk to you today.
[Imogen] You're very welcome. Thank you for sharing all of this with me. You've done really well.
[Poppy] i feel sick again
[Imogen] I'm sorry. How are you in general physically?
[Poppy] what he did and when he hit me really hurt
[Imogen] Do you think you need to see a doctor?
[Poppy] i dont want anyone else to touch me.
[Imogen] Ok, that's fine. You don't have to do anything you don't want to.
[Imogen] Are you alone in the house at the moment?
[Poppy] yes my mum came home and went back out. she goes to bingo wednesday nights with her friends.
[Imogen] Shall I tell you about some people who can help?
[Poppy] ok
[Imogen] Have you heard of an organisation called Childline?
[Poppy] no
[Imogen] Childline is a telephone helpline for children and young people. They have trained counsellors who can comfort, advise and protect children and young people who may feel they have nowhere else to turn to. Their website is http://www.childline.org.uk/ in case you want to have a look. They're open 24 hours a day and it's free to call them. It's a confidential service. Their number is 0800 1111.
[Imogen] What do you think?
[Poppy] ok i might phone them. At the moment i just want my mum to come home. i dont want to tell her i just want to be with her. But she sometimes doesnt get back until 1.
[Imogen] There's also an organisation called the NSPCC. The NSPCC provide support for children and young people who need help and they can also make sure someone intervenes if you're in danger. Their website is http://www.nspcc.org.uk/ and they also have a webchat service on http://www.there4me.com/ or an email service on . Their telephone number is 0808 800 5000.
[Poppy] thankyou. they sound ok.
[Imogen] Another option you may want to think about is contacting your local Social Services department. Have you heard of Social Services before?
[Poppy] i no of them a bit.
[Imogen] Ok. Well Social Services are also there to help and protect young people. If you were to contact them they would encourage you to tell them your name and address and also your uncle's name and address. They would contact the police on your behalf, for example, and the situation would be investigated formally. This might involve your uncle and you being questioned. What do you think?
[Poppy] i dont no, i am scared of telling the police. i am scared of my uncle finding out i told because he told me not to and i dont want him to hurt me again
[Poppy] but he did he really hurt me and i dont want him to do it again. it hurts now still and i dont want him to find out i told anyone because im not strong enough to stop him hurting me.
[Imogen] It's really important to know that nobody has the right to hurt you. If you want, but only if you want, we could contact either Social Services or the police on your behalf or any other organisation that you thought might be helpful.
[Poppy] no i dont want to tell anyone at the moment.
[Imogen] Ok, that's fine. Do you think you might contact one of the other confidential services I told you about?
[Poppy] i might do. i just want my to be with my mum for now though.
[Imogen] Ok. I really hope things get a bit better for you. You've taken a really important step in telling me what happened today. If you don't find the help you're looking for, you're welcome to get back in touch with us either on webchat or by calling us on 0808 808 4994.
[Poppy] ok thank you.
[Poppy] bye.