Carry clothes that would keep you warm and dry if needed, any medication you take, food, water, your phone and charger, and some money if you can.

• Don’t hitchhike or get into a stranger’s car. If someone seems overly friendly or flirty, they may expect something in return later.
• Sometimes people will promise you a lot of things, but anyone who tries to make you do something in return for what they call a favour is not a friend and should be avoided.
• If something doesn’t feel right, or a place seems unsafe, think about other options.
• If you are unsure about what you are getting yourself into then take a backward step. Have a think about things and if you want to talk the situation through, you can call us on 116 000, or speak to a family member, your care home or anyone who you feel comfortable talking with instead of potentially getting yourself into a bad situation.

Even if you’re avoiding calls, you might receive a message from someone who cares. Write down important numbers in case your battery dies. Check where you can charge your phone, including cafes and libraries. You can call us on 116 000, even if you don’t have minutes or credit.

• A first step you can take, is to speak to someone you trust. This could be another family member, a teacher, a care worker, a social worker or one of our team. There might be another option you hadn’t thought of, like staying with another family member until things settle down.
• If you feel unsafe, you can ask for help at busy places like supermarkets, train stations, or Citizens Advice. We can also help you talk to the police—they’re there to help, and you won’t be in trouble for asking. We can even support with organising a three-way call with us and the police, so you have another person who has your back. If the police decide to trace a call, it will come back to our number, not where you are.

• If you’re in danger now it might feel scary to call the police, but if you do contact them they will help make sure you are safe. You can contact them either by calling 101 and asking for the police or by going to a local police station. If it is an emergency, always call 999.
• If you’re worried about calling the police, you can call us on 116 000. We will talk to you about what the police might do, and if you do decide to call the police, we can stay on the phone to help you. But please, if it is an emergency, always call 999.