Physical or emotional abuse and neglect

If someone always puts you down, shouts at you, ignores you, or makes you feel bad about yourself, it's emotional abuse. 

Emotional abuse includes when someone:

• calls you names
• keeps shouting at you, even if you haven't done anything wrong
• puts you down 
• ignores you or leaves you out of things
• says or does things that make you feel bad about yourself
• makes you feel like you don’t belong
• makes you take responsibility for things you shouldn’t have to do until you’re older
• tries to control you or put pressure on you to do things you’re not ready to do
• treats you differently from your brothers or sisters
• puts you in dangerous situations
• is aggressive and violent to other people in your family and you keep seeing it
• stops you from having friends

Childline has 3 things for you to remember:

1. you don't have to put up with it. No one has the right to make you feel bad
2. it's not your fault when someone else is emotionally abusive
3. record what's going on. This will help you to explain what's happening to someone who can help.

Neglect is when a child or young person is not getting the things they need, for example 

• somewhere safe and warm to live; somewhere to learn and develop; 
• somewhere you will be cared for when you are not feeling well; 
• somewhere you will get enough to eat; somewhere you will be properly looked after; and, not be ignored. 

Neglect often happens when children are left to care for themselves or care for others such as brothers and sisters all the time.

Childline says every young person needs the following:

• 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

When people hear the word “neglect,” they often think it’s just about not being cared for properly, but it’s more than that. Neglect can make you feel invisible, like your needs and your voice don’t matter. And sometimes, it’s not even easy to recognise when it’s happening, especially if it’s always been that way.

As young people, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported, not just looked after, but truly cared for and listened to. This strategy is about making sure that no one slips through the cracks. It’s about adults working together, teachers, social workers, youth workers, health professionals, and communities, to notice when something’s not right, to ask questions, and to act early.

But it’s also about listening to us. Young people know what it feels like to go unheard. We can tell you what helps and what doesn’t. We want to be part of the change, not just the reason for it.

This Neglect Strategy shows that Oldham is serious about tackling neglect, not by blaming families, but by understanding, supporting, and preventing it. It’s a promise that every young person should be given the chance to grow up in an environment where they feel valued and cared for.

Because no one should ever feel forgotten.

Oldham Youth Council