Lucy's Justice Journey
A story about grown-ups working together to keep children safe
You can read this story whenever you need. You can read it all at once or a little bit at a time and in any order.
Lucy's Message
Take a break as often as you want.
- You are brave
- You are not alone
- Your feelings matter
- It’s okay to feel confused or worried sometimes
- Grown-ups can work together to help you
Sometimes you might see or hear words you don’t understand. The button below takes you to a page that explains these words in a simple way to help you understand.
If something ever feels wrong:
Tell a helping grown-up
Talk to a parent, teacher, doctor, or another adult you trust.
You are not in trouble
If something feels wrong, it is not your fault and you can ask for help.
You deserve to feel safe
Everyone has the right to feel safe, listened to, and cared for.
Hello, my name is Lucy
I am a little girl. Sometimes, children don’t feel safe. Feeling safe means that you feel happy and looked after.
If you feel unsafe, you might feel scared, hurt, cold, hungry or left alone for long times. This can feel confusing or worrying.
When we feel unsafe, helping grown-ups can work together to make things feel safe again.
Who are helping grown-ups?
Helping grown-ups are people who help us when we need it. They help to keep us safe.
There are lots of helping grown-ups in Lucy’s world. Some wear uniforms like police officers, nurses and shop workers. Some wear normal clothes like doctors and teachers. Some of them Lucy already knows, like her family and friends.
Helping grown-ups all have one very important job: to keep Lucy safe, healthy and happy.
You might meet lots of helping grown-ups on your journey. They will all work together to help you feel safe, healthy and happy.
When Something Feels Wrong
I knew that something was not okay. I told a helping grown-up.
They listened carefully. They believed me. They told me “you are not in trouble. You did the right thing”.
They thanked me for being brave.
Telling My Story
Helping grown-ups wanted to understand what had happened. I could choose whether I wanted to talk to them.
I met a police officer and a social worker. They spoke to me kindly and slowly. They gave me lots of time to think and talk.
When I spoke with the helping grown-ups I was able to:
- Bring someone I trust
- Ask questions
- Take breaks when I needed
- Stop when I wanted to
I talked in a calm, quiet room. The helping grown-ups listened carefully to what I had to say.
Lucy’s Medical Check-up
I met more helping grown-ups that work together to keep me safe. I visited the doctors and nurses at the hospital for a medical check. The doctors and nurses wanted to make sure my body is healthy.
They checked my body for marks and injuries. They took pictures of marks and injuries. The doctor explained everything before it happened. They were calm, kind and gentle.
I was able to:
- Bring someone I trust
- Ask questions
- Take breaks when I needed
- Stop when I wanted to
Making a Safety Plan
The helping grown-ups talked together. They shared information to make sure they made good decisions.
They talked about how to keep me safe and they made a safety plan. The safety plan told me:
- Where I would be
- Who would look after me
- Who I would see
The helping grown-up asked me what I thought. This helped me feel included.
They remembered my voice is important and that my feelings matter.
The safety plan helped me feel safe and helped to keep my body calm.
Visiting new places
Sometimes I went to new places.
This made me feel nervous. Nervous is when your tummy might feel a bit wobbly and your heart beats a bit faster. It is your body trying to help you be careful when you feel a little worried or are unsure of what might happen.
When I visited the new places I saw new things, heard new things, and smelled different smells.
I always brought someone I trusted. When I felt nervous or worried I told my helping grown-up, took a deep breath, or took a break.
The people in the new places were always friendly, spoke to me slowly and helped me to feel relaxed.
Getting Ready for Court
Sometimes, children need to share their story in court. If this happens, the helping grown-ups will make you feel as safe as possible.
My helping grown-ups showed me pictures of the court first. That helped it feel less scary. You could:
- Talk in a calm room
- Use a screen or a video link
- Take breaks when you need them
- Bring someone you trust
If you need to share your story in court, your helping grown-ups will talk to you about what will make you feel safest.
Day of Court
On the day of court, my helping grown-ups helped me feel safe, calm and relaxed.
They told me my voice was important and that they would listen to me if I needed to stop.
The helping grown-ups worked together to keep me safe.
They helped me to remember that I am brave, I am safe and I am not alone.
I shared my story over a tv screen from a room I felt safe in.
After Court
When court had finished, the helping grown-ups were there to support me.
The helping grown-ups made sure that I had someone to talk to.
They made sure I could feel safe.
They made sure I had help so I could heal.
The journey I have shared with you took time.
Some days were hard. Some days were easier.
My helping grown-ups have helped me to start healing and feel stronger.