Complicated words...

Here are explanations of words that appear within Ask Harry that you might not totally understand. If there is anything written here you are unsure about try talking to a trusted adult (like someone in your family or a teacher).

Advocate (for young people)
Someone to help a young person express their opinions and get their point across.

Child Abuse
Child abuse is when an adult harms a child or young person who is under 18, which includes bullying and racism. Child abuse hurts a child or young persons feelings or harms their bodies.

It is never the child or young person's fault and it's important to talk to someone about it.

There are four main types: emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse.

Emotional abuse
This is when a child or young person's parent or carer don't accept them, don't show them love or don't approve of them. The parent or carer's behaviour can affect the young person's feelings and development. The young person may be constantly rejected, criticised, shouted at, sworn at, made fun of or told that other people are better than them. The effects of emotional abuse can be long-lasting - it can lead to emotional, learning, behavioural or mental disorders.

Neglect
This is when a child or young person doesn't have proper food, shelter (home), clothing, warmth or protection and care.

Physical abuse
This is when a child or young person is hurt or injured by parents or other people. This can include beatings, hitting, kicking or punching - anything which causes pain or injury to a child or young person. Giving a child or young person harmful substances such as drugs counts as physical abuse. Physical abuse can be damaging and cause long-term effects such as disability or emotional problems. It can in some cases, be fatal.

Sexual abuse
This is when children and young people are forced into sexual acts against their will. Sexual abuse can cause physical and emotional problems. In some cases, the abuser can be someone the child or young person knows or is close to - this may mean that they don't realise they're being abused.

Confidential
If something is confidential, it means that your information and conversations are private - no one else will be told what you've said.

Counselling
At a counselling session, you meet with a trained person in a private and confidential place to discuss a difficulty you may be experiencing. Counselling usually doesn't tell you what to do, but tells you about your choices and helps you to feel less confused.

Emotional Abuse
See Child Abuse.

LEA Schools

Local Education Authority schools are those that are funded by the Government; you don't have to pay to attend them.

Occupational Therapy
Occupation therapy helps young people with a physical or mental disability carry out everyday activities that they find more difficult than most children. Occupational therapy helps young people with disabilities be more independent or can help a young person who returns to school after a serious injury or illness. Occupational therapists help young people create different ways to do things that they might miss out on because of their illness or injury.

Physical Abuse
See Child Abuse.

Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy helps improve a person's ability to move and do things for themselves. Physiotherapists help people with pain or difficulties in moving or have problems with their balance. They provide a range of treatments including exercise.

Psychologists
A psychologist is a trained person who talks about emotional and personal problems with a child, young person and/or their families.

Sexual Abuse
See Child Abuse.

Special Educational Needs
A child or young person has special educational needs if they find it harder to learn than other children of the same age.  Or they have a learning difficulty that means they need be taught in different ways to other children of the same age.

Truancy
Truancy is when a child or young person isn't at school when they should be and they haven't had permission from their parents or teacher.

Unemployment
When somebody doesn't have a job, but is available to work and is looking for a job.

Victim
A person is a victim if a crime or unfortunate event has happened to them.