Boy looking at computer

Useful links

Our work focuses on identifying and removing images and videos of child sexual abuse online.

We understand that people may face many other online worries or concerns that fall outside what we’re able to deal with. To help point you in the right direction, we’ve listed a range of organisations and resources below that may be better placed to support you.

Are you worried about your online behaviour?

If you’re concerned about your thoughts or actions online, including looking for or viewing sexual images or videos of children, or having sexual conversations with someone you believe is under 18, it’s important to know that confidential help is available.

Viewing child sexual abuse online is not harmless; it normalises the sexual abuse of children, increases the possibility of children being sexually abused and retraumatises victims whose abuse is being repeatedly viewed and shared. 

Stop It Now! provides anonymous, free and non-judgemental support by phone, email and chat for anyone who is worried about their behaviour or wants help to stay in control.

Children's charities
  • Action for Children supports and speaks out for the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK. 
  • Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working to help make the internet a great and safe place for children.
  • European NGO Alliance for Child Safety Online (eNACSO) is a network of children’s rights organisations from across the European Union (EU) working for a safer online environment for children.
  • Lucy Faithful Foundation is the only UK-wide children protection charity dedicated solely to reducing the risk of children being sexually abused. They work with entire families that have been affected by abuse including: adult male and female sexual abusers; young people with inappropriate sexual behaviours; victims of abuse and other family members.
  • NSPCC (the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) runs ChildLine - the UK’s free, confidential helpline for children and young people. Trained counsellors are on hand 24 hours a day to provide advice and support by phone and online.
  • The Marie Collins Foundation is the UK charity enabling children who suffer sexual abuse and exploitation via internet and mobile technologies to recover and live safe, fulfilling lives.
Child sexual abuse
  • Guidance from the UK Government on what to do if you're worried about a child who might be suffering sexual abuse. 
  • Shore is part of The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity working to prevent all forms of child sexual abuse. Shore provides a safe and anonymous place for young people to get help and support, to prevent harmful sexual behaviours among young people.
Copyright issues
Counselling
  • Counselling Directory provides the public with profiles of counsellors across the UK, detailing the areas of counselling each offers and the fees they charge. The website also contains information on emotional disorders and statistics. 
Cyberbullying
  • ChildLine: NSPCC has set up this website especially designed for children and young people who would like free confidential information on issues such as cyberbullying or abuse.
Eating disorders

  • Beat Eating Disorders is a UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. They are working with internet service providers to stop these websites in the UK.

  • The National Centre For Eating Disorders provides training for professionals and resources for those struggling with eating disorders.
Fraud and financial scams
  • Action Fraud is a national public facing organisation to help tackle fraud in UK. Action Fraud is supported by the National Fraud Authority.
  • Take Five is a national campaign that offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud. This includes email deception and phone-based scams as well as online fraud – particularly where criminals impersonate trusted organisations.
Gaming
Grooming
  • The NCA's CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection command) works with child protection partners across the UK and overseas to identify the main threats to children and coordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account.
  • You should contact your local police if you need immediate assistance.
Harmful content
  • To report harmful content other than child sexual abuse images and videos online visit Report Harmful Content website. The site is provided by UK Safer Internet Centre and operated by SWGfL.
Hate crime
  • True Vision gives you information about hate crime or incidents and how to report it.
Human trafficking
International Hotlines
  • INHOPE is the International Association of Internet Hotlines. INHOPE represents internet hotlines worldwide, supporting them in their aim to respond to reports of illegal content to make the internet safer. To find the equivalent hotline of the IWF in a specific country click here.
Legal issues
Mobile phone issues
  • The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) provides the independent framework that underpins the Mobile Operators' code of practice for the self-regulation of content on mobile. The Classification Framework defines content that is unsuitable for customers under the age of 18 and is based on the BBFC’s Classification Guidelines for film and video.
  • The Mobile Broadband Group (MBG) brings together all the UK mobile network operators (O2, Vodafone, Three and EE) to work across a range of self-regulatory initiatives and public policy issues in the mobile sector. 
Online crime
  • Get Safe Online is the UK’s national internet security awareness initiative. The initiative educates, informs and raises awareness of internet security issues to encourage confident, safe use of the internet.
Online safety
  • Childnet International is the children's internet charity committed to helping to make the internet a safe place for children.
  • The European NGO Alliance for Child Safety Online (eNACSO) is a network consisting of children’s rights NGOs from across the EU working for a safer online environment for children.
  • The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is an international, non-profit organisation of internet leaders working to develop a safer internet.
  • Friendly WiFi is the world’s first accreditation scheme designed to keep children safe online when they use public WiFi. The scheme has been set up to check that UK businesses who offer their customers WiFi, have the right filters in place to block illegal websites and images.
  • Get Safe Online is a joint initiative between HM Government, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and private sector sponsors from the worlds of technology, retail and finance to provide unbiased, user-friendly advice about online safety for consumers and smaller businesses.
  • Insafe is a European network of Awareness Centres promoting safe, responsible use of the internet and mobile devices to young people.
  • Internet Security advice from the experts at Norton. 
  • Internet Matters provide information for parents and children on online safety. 
  • Parents Protect is a child protection campaign that delivers training to parents, carers and professionals and also operates an educative website designed to raise awareness of child sexual abuse, internet safety and to give you the information you need to protect children.
  • Parentzone provides advice, knowledge, and support, to shape the future for children, as they embrace the online world.
  • Spamhaus tracks the internet's spammers, spam gangs and spam services, provides dependable real-time anti-spam protection for internet networks, and works with law enforcement to identify and pursue spammers worldwide.
  • SWGfL is a charity ensuring children can benefit from technology free from harm.
  • Thorn for Parents provides advice and resources for parents to help keep children and young people safe online.
  • The UK Safer Internet Centre provides online safety information and advice for children, parents, carers and educators. 
  • The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) brings together organisations from government, industry, law, academia and charity sectors that work in partnership to help keep children safe online.
  • #GoFISH with Cyber Ambassadors: A cyber ambassadors scheme introduced in schools to skill-up a number of students in education settings on key online safety issues. Endorsed by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
  • Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety Teach Toolkit from the DigiLearn team at Education Scotland. 
Online terrorism
  • The government has developed a website for reporting online material promoting terrorism or extremism. 
Rating and filtering
  • The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) framework defines content that is unsuitable for customers under the age of 18 and is based on the BBFC’s Classification Guidelines for film and video.
Revenge porn
  • Operated by the SWGfL, the Revenge Porn Helpline offers free, confidential advice and support for victims of revenge porn.
School safety advice
  • Parents Protect is a child protection campaign that delivers training to parents, carers and professionals and also operates an educative website designed to raise awareness to child sexual abuse, internet safety and to give you the information you need to protect children.
  • Teachtoday provides information and advice for teachers, head teachers, governors and other members of the school workforce about the positive, responsible and safe use of new technologies.
Sex and relationships

  • #AskTheAwkward from the National Crime Agency's 'Think u know' service offers advice and guidance on talking with your child about relationships and sex.   

     

Suicide
  • PAPYRUS is a UK charity committed to suicide prevention, including the closing down of websites that encourage suicide.
  • Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They're available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116 123, email [email protected] or visit their website. 
Victim support
  • Embrace supports children, young people and families who are victims of serious crime.
  • The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) is a registered charity providing support and information for people abused in childhood.
  • The Marie Collins Foundation is a UK charity enabling children who suffer sexual abuse and exploitation via the internet and mobile technologies to recover and live safe, fulfilling lives.
  • The National Netreach Programme is a collaborative project facilitated by Changing Lives and Social Finance that aims to support victims (16+) of online harms and those engaging in online sex work. Their work is primarily focused on online sexual exploitation, image-based sexual abuse and technology-facilitated sexual violence. 
Other helpful links

Need to report something that's not child sexual abuse?

See our guide for reporting other online harmful content.

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