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You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
Hi there,
Thank you for your letter and well done for writing to me to get some support.
I can hear that youre feeling scared for your brother and understand that what you saw must have been a shock for you and very frightening.
From what youve said it sounds like you think that your dad had been hitting your brother with his belt. Its not okay for your dad to do that its called physical abuse and is against the law. It might be a good idea to talk to your brother and find out more about what happened that night and whether anything like this has happened before.
You could also have a think about whether there are any adults in your life who you trust that you could talk to about what has happened. If youre living with your dad it might be best to have a think about someone away from home - a teacher, a school nurse, a friends parent or a youth worker - somebody you feel comfortable with.
ChildLine counsellors are also always here for either you or your brother to talk to about what happened, how youre feeling and what options there might be. You can do that by calling on 0800 11 11 (all calls are free and dont show up on the bill) or by using the 1-2-1 chat (it works like instant messenger).
You may also like to take a look at our physical abuse pages for more information and ideas on what to do now. Also please remember if there are any times when you feel that you or your brother might be in any immediate danger you can call 999 for the police.
Youve taken a really brave step in writing this letter and there is always someone here to support you, whatever you decide to do next.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.