Childhood relationships

Child exploitation

Child sexual exploitation happens when a young person is forced, tricked, or pressured into sexual activity. It is a form of abuse.

People who exploit may pretend to be a boyfriend or girlfriend. They might buy gifts, say they love you, and make you feel special. This is called grooming. At first, it may seem like a good relationship, but then they start asking for something in return for the gifts and attention they have given you.

If something does not feel right, talk to someone you trust. Help and support are available.

They may ask you to:

have sex with them
send sexual pictures of yourself to them
have sex with other people

You can find out more on what to look out for at:

Grooming, just the facts

It is important to know what a healthy relationship looks like and how to protect yourself and your friends.

If someone gives you something in return for sex, sexual activities or sexual photos that’s an unhealthy relationship. For example:

they could offer you presents, money, food, alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes
they could give you affection that makes you feel special
they could involve you in fun or exciting activities

This can happen with people your age or older.

At first, it might not seem obvious. Relationships can change over time, and someone may try to take advantage of you. They might build trust by forming an emotional bond and then start to exploit you, this is called grooming.

Grooming can happen face-to-face or online. It can happen quickly or over many months. Many young people who are groomed believe they are in a good relationship, making it hard to see what is really happening.

To learn more about grooming, please see National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) grooming (opens in new window).

Understanding sexuality

Everyone experiences attraction differently. As you grow up, you may find yourself attracted to people of the opposite sex, the same sex, or both. It can take time to understand your feelings.

Being lesbian, gay, or bisexual is not a choice, it is simply how someone feels, and it is completely natural.

Experimenting and exploring

About one in ten people identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and the number is higher among 16 to 24-year-olds (opens in new window).

Some people know straight away who they are attracted to, while others take time to explore their feelings. There is no need to rush or put a label on how you feel.

For some young people, realising they are attracted to the same sex can be difficult, and negative comments can make it harder.

If hurtful comments develop into homophobic bullying (opens in new window), be aware that it is now a reportable hate crime and a punishable offence.

Sexual and gender identity

There are many different types of sexual orientation, and there is no such thing as a “normal” sexuality, everyone is different.

Transgender describes people whose gender does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, someone born as a girl who has always felt like a boy.

To learn more about sexual identity, please see Childline sexual identity (opens in new window).

Forced marriage

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not consent, or in cases of people with learning or physical disabilities cannot consent, to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used to force them to marry.

The pressure put on people to marry against their will can be:

physical including threats, actual physical violence and sexual violence
emotional and psychological for example, when someone is made to feel like they’re bringing shame on their family
financial abuse including taking away their wages or not giving them any money

Who to contact if you are at risk

If you or someone you know is at risk of forced marriage, it is important to tell a trusted adult, such as a teacher or school nurse, as soon as possible. There are ways to protect you so you do not have to go through with the marriage.

Forced marriage unit