Childline can support youngsters concerned about family relationships

In her second column for My Kent Family, Childline service manager Wendy Robinson talks about the work the charity does with youngsters concerned about the breakdown of family relationships...

They say that home is where the heart is.

It’s where you should feel most safe, secure and loved. But there is no such thing as the perfect family and getting on with people, even those you love, isn’t always easy.

Perhaps no surprise then that family relationships were the second most common reason in 2016/17 for children to contact Childline for advice and support.

In fact we carried out almost 37,400 counselling sessions with children who were experiencing conflict at home or whose parents were splitting up.

That’s the equivalent of more than 100 counselling sessions a day.

Children contacted us for a number of reasons – some were worried about their parents’ drinking or being violent, some were fighting with their siblings, felt unsafe at home or living in care.

Drinking too much can affect a parent or carer’s ability to care for children and might mean they have to take on more responsibilities at home.

Domestic violence can occur in any family and even if the violence isn’t aimed at children, they get hurt too. It can also be a very scary thing to witness.

One girl aged between 12 and 15* who contacted Childline said: “I am really scared my parents are going to split up. They argue all the time over the smallest little things. When they argue I just go up to my room and sit on my own. Sometimes I just cry because I am so upset to hear them shouting at each other.

"I don't think they understand how they are affecting me when they argue.”

It’s important to remember that arguing is completely normal but when it starts affecting family life and children’s wellbeing it’s time to get support.

Childline can be that support for children.

We want children to know they can talk to one of our counsellors for advice and support at any time.

We can also help them think about talking to someone they trust about what’s happening or getting help closer to home.

It’s also important for anyone struggling with family relationships to know you’re not alone with this.

Reach out for help so that family life can be the loving, safe and secure place that we all need it to be.

Children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111. Or find advice online at www.childline.org.

Adults in need of support can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

*All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child or young person. Quotes are created from real Childline contacts but are not necessarily direct quotes from the young person.