Tap Private and you’re straight onto the BBC Weather page. Pressing Esc twice does the same on a keyboard. Neither hides the pages you already looked at. There’s more on that further down.
You are not in trouble for being here
Whatever’s going on, you are not making it up and you are not the only one. Have a read of the bit that fits you.
I’m under 18 · I’m an adult · I’m worried about someone else
If you are in danger right now, ring 999.
If you call 999 and cannot speak: cough or tap the phone if you can. On a mobile, press 55 when prompted, that transfers you to the police. On a landline, stay on the line; if the operator hears only background noise they will transfer you. Pressing 55 does not on its own send anyone to you.
If you’re under 18
Childline is free, any time, day or night, on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk. It will not show up on your phone bill and you can ring or chat online, whichever feels easier.
You can also tell any adult you trust and it does not have to be your mum or dad. A teacher, the school nurse, an aunt, a friend’s parent or your GP all count and none of them will think you are wasting their time.
If you’re 16 or 17 and someone has sexually assaulted you or pushed you into something sexual, Rape Crisis runs a free 24/7 support line on 0808 500 2222 if you live in England or Wales. In Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland is free on 08088 01 03 02 for anyone 13 or over, every day from 5pm to midnight. In Northern Ireland, ring the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414, any time.
If you’re an adult
- Domestic abuse or coercive control: the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247, with live chat on its website for when you cannot talk out loud.
- Rape or sexual abuse, now or years back: in England and Wales, the Rape Crisis support line is free and open 24/7 on 0808 500 2222. In Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland is free on 08088 01 03 02, every day from 5pm to midnight. In Northern Ireland, ring the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414, any time.
- A scam, or someone after your money: hang up and ring 159 to reach your bank safely. Report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at reportfraud.police.uk. In Scotland, ring Police Scotland on 101 instead.
- Abuse of an older person, family or carers included: Hourglass runs a free 24/7 helpline on 0808 808 8141.
If you’re worried about someone else
If a child is in danger right now, ring 999. If you’re worried about a child but it is not an emergency this minute, ring the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Both are only staffed at set times. An email sent outside those hours is not picked up, so if it cannot wait, ring the police on 101 or your local council’s children’s services instead. You do not have to give your name to either.
If it’s a friend or relative you’re worried about rather than a child, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and Hourglass both talk to people who are worried about someone they love, not just to the person it’s happening to.
If nobody listened the first time
If you told someone and nothing happened, you were not wrong to tell them. Tell someone else. Keep telling until someone helps, because you deserve someone who does.
If you go to the police, the words you use matter more than they should. Under 18, say “child sexual exploitation” or “child criminal exploitation”. As an adult, say “coercive control” or “domestic abuse”. The right words get it logged as what it is.
Keeping this visit private
The Private button at the top takes you straight to the BBC Weather page. Pressing Esc twice does the same thing, on a laptop or desktop, on Windows or a Mac alike. On a phone or tablet with no keyboard, the button is the one that works, so tap that.
Neither one can hide the pages you looked at before this one. If someone checks your phone or laptop afterwards:
- use a private or incognito window next time
- delete just this site from your history rather than all of it, since a history that’s suddenly empty can draw more attention than one that isn’t
- use a device they will not check, like a friend’s phone or a library computer
What we can and can’t do
Bloody Marvellous is here to tell you everything nobody told you and that is a job we take seriously. But we are not a crisis service, we cannot answer in an emergency and we cannot come and get you. That’s exactly why every number on this page belongs to someone who can. They’re trained and free. They will listen.
Reaching for a page like this is you taking yourself seriously and that is exactly right. Pick the number that fits and reach out. You are Marvellous.