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Some background to the issue

No one likes to even imagine a child, especially a young one, being the victim of abuse. As parents we dedicate our lives to the safety of our children and the idea of an adult deliberately abusing a child or young person is one which is as alien as it is repugnant. But...it happens, and it happens at all social levels, in all towns, and to lots of children.

Abuse can take many forms. While we often immediately turn our thoughts to child abuse being sexually orientated, that is just one type. The abuse can take the form of physical abuse, sometimes as a punishment, often for no reason. It can be emotional abuse or psychological abuse.

While teachers and support staff in all schools are trained to look out for the signs of any sort of abuse, what do you do if you hear about or suspect a child is being abused?

TELL SOMEONE!

The same simple rule applies with child abuse as it does with adult domestic abuse... TELL SOMEONE! Don't keep your suspicions to yourself. If you have genuine suspicions that a child is being subjected to abuse, of any sort, then who ever you pass those suspicions on to will:

• Take your concerns seriously.
• Keep what you tell then in confidence.
• Act on what you tell them.
• They will obviously have to tell other people or other agencies but they won't reveal who told them.

Who you tell is up to you. You can go direct to the Police or the Social Services. You can tell you parish priest or the Head Teacher at your child's school. If you wanted you could also use one of the many other reporting web sites or agencies such as Childline, NSPCC or Crimestoppers.

How ever you do it, just do it. Don't let a child suffer abuse for a single moment longer than they have to.