Hi there,

The age of consent in the UK is 16. This means that anyone who’s under 16 can’t legally consent to do anything sexual with another person. When you turn 16, you can legally be in a consensual sexual relationship with anyone, as long as they’re also 16 or over. Remember though, the law is just one part of a healthy relationship.

There are lots of things that make up a healthy relationship, one of those is feeling equal. When someone is a lot older than you, it can sometimes mean that they’ll feel more in control of what’s happening. If someone earns more money or has more freedom, then it can lead to it feeling like they’ve got more say in what’s happening.

We’ve got lots of advice to help you think about your relationship. Whether there’s an age gap or not, it can help to take our relationship check-up and see how you feel. Remember, it’s never okay for someone in a relationship to make you feel like you’re worth less or to scare you.

One part of a relationship can be how other people react. It’s natural for the people who care about you to want you to feel safe and happy, and sometimes they might ask you about your relationship because your partner is a lot older. You should never feel like you have to keep a relationship secret.

If you are worried about talking to the people in your life about your relationship, it can help to talk to us. Childline can be a safe place to talk about your relationship, how you’re feeling, and how other people are reacting. You can get support from a counsellor any time.

Take care,

Sam