Page Utilities
Change wallpaper
Help
Accessibility

I'd like to find out about

Here you'll find info on a whole range of issues. Sometimes you can sort out a problem on your own. But if you have a worry you can't cope with, don't bottle it up. It can really help if you talk to someone in your family, a carer, one of your friends or maybe a teacher. And you can contact ChildLine at any time. 

Ask Sam

My friends have gone crazy

My friends have gone crazy

I have a few friends who I am quite close to.. These few friends have started hanging out with some strange new people, that they seem to really like.

Problem is, suddenly these few friends have started smoking, and drinking in excess to the point that it's probably bad for them. Their parents don't seem to care. Now it seems they're starting with other stuff, like weed and crack, and the new people they're hanging around with seem to have something to do with it. Help. Whenever we tell them that the smoking, drinks, drugs aren't good, they just laugh it off. These friends are only 15 or so.

Help?

Read more
Write a letter to Ask Sam
 
 
 
 
 

Message

boards

Read the latest threads on the message boards

Message boards

Accessibility

We want to make sure everyone can access the information provided on this site

We've put together a few tips and help for you. Please send us a message if you can't find what you're looking for. Or you have a suggestion of something we could include.

Using the keyboard instead of the mouse.
As well as using the tab key to navigate through the screen, the ChildLine website has special access keys:

Alt+S = skip navigation
Alt+1 = home
Alt+0 = accessibility information.

Is the text size too large or too small?
You can change your text settings through your browser options:

In Internet Explorer, go to View > Text size and select your desired text size setting (eg, larger, smaller).

In Firefox, go to View > Text size and increase/decrease using Ctrl and + or -

If you have a scroll wheel on your mouse, you can hold down Ctrl and scroll back or forth to increase or decrease the font size in both IE and Firefox.

Changing your computer screen settings
To change the size of the image shown on your screen on a PC running Windows 95 and upwards, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Settings and change the desktop area by using the sliding bar.

On an Apple Mac, you can use the Monitor & Sound Control Panel to change the resolution.

Having difficulty with your keyboard or mouse?
You can fine-tune your mouse and keyboard settings under Start > Settings > Control Panel > Accessibility in Windows 95/98/NT/2000 and XP.

Skipping navigation for talking browsers and screen readers
For speech browsers, you can press Alt and S followed by Enter to skip navigation on our pages.

The site is W3C level AA compliant.

 

Help

Explore

Click on the links below to find out more about each issue.  If you can't find an the issue that you are looking for, click into one of the categories, such as Abuse and safety or Crime and the law, to see more issues under these headings.  Try the site search if you still can't find what you want.

Something missing?

If there is an issue missing that you would like to see information about, please let us know by using one of the feedback boxes around the site.