An important and heart-wrenching advert, aired by the NSPCC, is urging adults to talk to youngsters who may be showing signs of sexual abuse.
The true-to-life NSPCC video opens on a school netball court and focuses on a nervous, bleary-eyed schoolgirl trying to play the game.
Without saying a word the young girl looks helplessly over at her PE teacher on the sidelines and tries desperately to 'say something'.
The teacher talking to the youngster on the sidelines
The young girl is visibly in turmoil as her inner voice pleads with the teacher to ask her what's wrong.
Meanwhile the camera cuts to the teacher, also stood in silence looking back at the youngster, with her inner voice pleading the same thing: 'say something'.
Looking back at the child, as the netball game continues in the background, the teacher knows 'something bad' is happening to her but is afraid to ask the question.
The teacher knows, as does the young girl, they need to 'be brave'.
As the final whistle blows, the two face each other – the turmoil and desperation etched on their faces. 'Hi,' says the teacher, before the girl replies 'hi' back.
And it's the start of the conversation they both need to have.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrAwP79Dmn8
The heart-wrenching advert, provided by the NSPCC, the UK's leading children's charity, aims to break the silence surrounding sexual abuse in our society.
Sadly one in 20 children experience it and for those affected, speaking out can be hard. One in three sexual abuse victims don't tell anyone what has happened to them.
The NSPCC advice if you are concerned about a child is:
- Make sure you have regular conversations with the child. Most victims of abuse can find it difficult to talk about at first – let them know they can talk to you no matter what
- Speak to their teacher or health visitor and ask if they've also spotted anything unusual
- If a child does disclose abuse to you make it known to the young person they did the right thing by telling you
- Call the NSPCC helpline for advice as soon as possible on 0808 800 5000. A delay could allow the abuse to continue
- If you feel there is immediate danger to the child don't hesitate to call 999
