Children & Young People

• Who gets bullied?
• What can I do?
• Who can I tell?
• What if...?
• Online Safety\Cyber Bullying
• Making Friends
• Changing Schools
• Protecting Yourself
• Kidscape Gallery
• Keepsafe Code
• Keepsafe Extra

Help us by completing our online Survey - see what others thought of Kidscape...

We'd welcome your feedback about our website. Email us and let us know what you think.

Other Awards...

How can I protect myself?

Download our new leaflet (PDF)

Here are some suggestions from Kidscape and teenagers we spoke to who were concerned about their safety

• Avoid taking short-cuts through dark or deserted places.
• Never hitchhike, take rides from strangers and try to avoid walking home alone.
• If someone approaches you asking directions, keep your distance or walk away and pretend not to hear.
• If you are threatened, yell and run away, if possible.
• If you are being followed, go into a shop or towards people.
• Try crossing the road to see if the person follows.
• Do not wear a IPod\mp3 player\personal stereo as it prevents you being aware of what is happening around you.
• Keep your mobile hidden when you're not using it.
• Think twice about getting the latest 'phone model - expensive handsets could attract potential thieves and muggers
• Avoid empty carriages on trains.
• On buses or the underground, sit near the driver or guard.
• If you are attacked, think of what you might do. Would you talk your way out of it or pretend to do what you are asked, while waiting for a chance to get away? Only you can decide what to do in the event.
• If you do have to defend yourself, take a deep breath and try not to panic. Use anything you have to hand to defend yourself - keys, an umbrella, the heel of your shoe, hairspray.
• Remember that anything you do or any item you use is to provide you with an opportunity to get away. Unless you are trained in self-defence, it is absolutely senseless to stay around.
• If you are faced with a knife or another weapon, probably your best defence is to remain calm and either give the attacker whatever possessions he or she demands. If they ares going to assault you, you might try to talk your way out. Whatever you do, it must be your decision.

'Getting Away' Strategies to Practice

• If someone grabs your arms with their hands, jerk your arm away in the direction of the attacker's thumb - this is the weakest part of anyone's grip.
• If someone grabs you from behind, bend forward and come back quickly, slamming your head against their face or chin (the back of your head is very hard, but it may hurt you as well).
• If they have a weapon and you think you have a chance to do something to get away, scrape your heel down the inside of the attacker's leg, or kick them in the knee hard. Then stamp on their instep with all your weight. Then run in the direction of shops or people!
• Kicking someone in the genitals or poking them in the eyes is not as easy as you might have heard. If you kick up at an attacker, they may just grab your leg and you will end up on the ground.
• Only ever try something you feel confident you can complete, or you might just do enough to make the attacker even more angry.
• The best advice is to practise the two or three techniques you think you could use until they are automatic.
• Finally, if you are attacked, tell someone - ring the police, talk to a parent, a teacher, a friend. Do not keep it to yourself.