feeling
INVISIBLE
Neglect
You have the right to be looked after properly. If you’re not getting the things you need at home, then this could be neglect. Whatever’s happening, it’s not your fault and there are ways to get support.
What is neglect?
Neglect is when someone isn’t giving you the things you need. This isn’t the same as giving you what you want all the time, but can mean you might not have:
- clothes that are clean and warm and shoes that fit and keep you dry
- enough to eat and drink
- protection from dangerous situations
- somewhere warm, dry and comfortable to sleep
- help when you're ill or you've been hurt
- love and care from your parents or carers
- support with your education
- access and help with medication if needed.
You also shouldn't have to spend a lot of time looking after other people in your family without getting any support from an adult.
If you have a disability you should also be supported in whatever extra ways you need
Am I being neglected?
Everyone deserves to feel safe, cared for, and to have their basic needs met. Being taken care of means that someone is giving you what you need physically and emotionally, as well as making sure you’re getting an education and access to things like the doctor when you need it.
If you’re struggling with things at home or think you’re being neglected, then it’s important to get support.
5 things about neglect:
- every child and young person has the right to have their basic needs met
- there are lots of ways to get support if your family is struggling with money or housing
- being neglected is never your fault
- even if you’re a young carer, you deserve to be looked after
- Childline can support you with anything that’s happening.
Getting support with neglect
You shouldn’t have to cope with neglect alone. If you’re worried about your needs, there are ways to get help:
Being left home alone
You shouldn’t be left home alone if you don’t feel safe or comfortable there. You should feel like:
- you’re old enough
- you’ve got enough food and things you need
- you know what to do and who to contact in an emergency
- you know when someone will get home.
If you’re left to look after younger people at home before you’re ready or you’re not sure about being left at home, then it’s okay to say.
You can talk to an adult you trust or to Childline any time.
How neglect can feel
Being neglected can affect you in lots of different ways. There’s no right or wrong way to feel about it, some young people have said they feel lonely, anxious, or scared. You might feel like you don’t deserve to have your needs met, but that’s not true. You’re always important.
Learning to cope or feel differently after neglect can take time, but you’re not alone. There are different ways to cope with how you’re feeling:
Helping someone else
If you think a friend or family member is being neglected, there are things you can do to help. It’s not always clear if someone’s being neglected, but there are things you might notice:
- they seem like they haven’t washed, are dirty or smelly, or their clothes seem dirty
- they are hungry or asking for other people’s food
- they often come to school with no lunch money or packed lunch
- their parents don’t seem to know where they are or what they are doing
- they often don’t turn up for school, or they often arrive late
- they don’t seem to have many friends
- they get sent to school even when they are really unwell.
If you’re worried about a friend or someone you know, then it’s okay to get support. It can help to start by sharing what you’ve noticed with an adult you trust. You could also help a friend to speak to someone they trust if they’re able to.
If you're not getting what you need at home you might be experiencing neglect.
just want them to
FEEL
BETTER
What different words mean
You might see and hear different phrases about neglect, but it can be hard to understand these sometimes. We’ve included some of these below:
