It seemed like a normal day. Nothing could have prepared me for what was about to happen. I heard a loud knock. Dad opened the door.
Mum called me downstairs. Everyone had such serious looks on their faces. Lots of tears later, my dad was gone. It couldn’t be right. This couldn’t be happening. It was like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.
Deana* was in her room unpacking her bag after a family holiday when a knock at the door from the police changed her life. Her dad was arrested for online child sexual offences.
She, her mum, and her younger brother were blindsided. The police came and went. They took away Deana’s dad and left the devastated family to make sense of their new reality.
Each month, the police arrest hundreds of people in the UK for online child sexual offences. The impact on families can be overwhelming.
Through our work with family members, we identified a gap in support for children and young people impacted by the arrest of a parent or guardian. Many young people struggle to make sense of a situation they didn’t cause, but that deeply affects them. With Deana’s help, we’ve created What About Us? – new resources for young people that tell Deana’s story and offer support on how to navigate this difficult experience.
Watch the animation that tells Deana’s story
Hear Deana’s story, with images based on her drawings that depict what she and her brother Luke* went through.
Workbook for young people coping with the arrest of an adult they know
This workbook is filled with creative exercises, coping strategies, and space for reflection. Deana shares her real-life experience, and what she learned from Shore, our safe online space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour.
New parents' guide to help adults support young people through this experience
We’ve also produced a parents’ guide, in consultation with experts, young people, and their families with lived experience, to help caregivers support their children with empathy, honesty, and reassurance.
Whether a young person is feeling overwhelmed, unsure who to talk to, or simply needs help understanding their emotions, this resource offers a safe starting point. It’s not about providing all the answers, but letting young people know they’re not alone, and that support is available.
Support for other family members following the arrest of a loved one
These resources for young people sit alongside our existing support for partners and other family members of people who have been arrested for online sexual offences.
- Our anonymous Family and Friends forum is available for peer support and advice.
- Our Inform programme is a free programme for partners, family, and friends of those who have offended online.
- Our Stop It Now helpline is available for anyone concerned about child sexual abuse.
How we can help you if you’re worried about the online sexual behaviour of another adult.
With thanks to the Ideas for Change Fund for funding this project. The Ideas for Change Fund is funded by David Graham of Changing Ideas and managed by Inspiring Scotland.
*names have been changed to protect anonymity
