Need help right now?
If you are suffering domestic abuse, there are many informed and experienced organisations who care and want to help. Some of these are listed below.
Emergency measures
In case of emergency, call 999 for police or an ambulance.
The websites and helplines below can offer help and advice on how to stay safe and how to get access to emergency refuge accommodation. They can also offer advice if you are worried about the safety of someone close to you.
National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline
- To talk to someone in confidence for support, information or an emergency referral to temporary accommodation, contact the free 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline.
- Helpline: 0808 2000 247
- Website: www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
A free, confidential service for anyone concerned about children at risk, including children themselves. The service offers counselling, information and advice.
Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Domestic Violence Helpline
If you’re based in Northern Ireland and you need to talk to someone in confidence call the 24 hour helpline run by Women’s Aid, a voluntary organisation providing services for women and children in Northern Ireland.
Samaritans
Confidential support 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing distress or despair, and feelings that could lead to suicide.
- UK and Northern Ireland helpline: 08457 90 90 90
- Republic of Ireland helpline: 1850 60 90 90
- Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline
If you’re based in Scotland and you need to talk to someone in confidence call the 24 hour Domestic Abuse Helpline run by Scottish Women’s Aid, the lead organisation working towards the prevention of domestic abuse in Scotland.
Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline
The national free support and information service for women, children and men in Wales who are experiencing or who have experienced abuse at the hands of someone close to them. To talk to someone in confidence, call the 24 hour helpline.
Legal action
If you need to take legal action, you can apply for an emergency injunction (court order). For more details visit one of the following websites:
Rights of Women
Offers an advice line with free legal advice for women by women and a sexual violence helpline. Rights of Women is a voluntary organisation committed to informing, educating and empowering women about their legal rights.
Men’s Advice Line
A confidential freephone helpline for all men experiencing domestic violence by a current or ex-partner. This includes men in heterosexual or same-sex relationships.
Support for victims
There are many people and organisations who care and who want to help. The websites below are a selected few of the organisations that you can trust to offer information or support if you or someone close to you is suffering from domestic abuse.
If you're in an abusive relationship you need to know your options before you can act. The websites below can help explain these to you.
Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
Rape Crisis Centres across England and Wales provide a range of specialist services for women and girls that have been raped or experienced another form of sexual violence, whether as adults or children. See the website for details of local centres.
Refuge
Refuge is a national charity that provides emergency accommodation and support for women and children experiencing domestic violence. Some of the refuges are for women of specific cultural backgrounds.
Victim Support
Victim Support is a national charity for victims and witnesses of crime in England and Wales and offers a free and confidential service, irrespective of whether or not a crime has been reported.
Women's Aid Federation of England
The key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children with a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK.
Support for male victims
Men are victims of violence at the hands of both female and male partners. The websites and helplines below address their specific concerns and explain the options available.
Mankind Initiative
The Mankind Initiative is a national charity that provides support for male victims of domestic abuse. It runs a helpline and can provide referrals to refuges and local authorities where appropriate.
Men’s Advice Line (Respect)
A confidential helpline offering support, information and practical advice to men experiencing domestic violence.
Support for lesbians and gay men
The websites and helplines below offer support and advice on the specific concerns of gay men and women who have experienced domestic abuse.
Broken Rainbow
Telephone helpline for lesbians, gay men and bisexual or transgendered people experiencing domestic violence. The helpline is operated by workers from these communities and ensures caller privacy.
London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
The LLGS operates an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people and is staffed with volunteers from these communities.
Violence against older people
Older people have their own particular issues regarding domestic abuse and safety in the home. The following website can offer support and advice.
Action on Elder Abuse (AEA)
AEA is a nationwide charity working to protect and prevent the abuse of vulnerable older adults. It also provides support within Ireland.
Support for minority and ethnic groups
The following sites are aimed at specific communities of women and children who may be suffering domestic abuse or made homeless by the threat of abuse.
Black Association of Women Step Out (BAWSO)
A voluntary organisation that provides holistic services to Black and Minority Ethnic women and children who are suffering abuse or are made homeless through a threat of domestic abuse in Wales.
Chinese Information and Advice Centre (CIAC)
A UK charity offering free legal advice and support to disadvantaged Chinese people living in the UK. Their Women’s Support Project helps women who are experiencing family or marital difficulties and provides access to services including housing and legal help.
Jewish Women's Aid (JWA)
JWA provides a freephone helpline, practical and legal advice and a confidential counselling service for Jewish women facing domestic violence. It also runs a secure refuge in London for women of all levels of religious observance and their children.
Newham Asian Women’s Project
NAWP provides emergency accommodation and housing support services to South Asian women and their children fleeing domestic violence. It also offers counselling services and rights-based advice.
Southall Black Sisters
SWS run a resource centre in West London that provides advice, counselling and self-help support services to Asian and African-Caribbean women experiencing violence and abuse.
Women Acting In Today’s Society
The WAITS Domestic Violence Project provides support and advocacy for women who have experienced domestic violence, with a focus on Black and Minority Ethnic women and Chinese women. Based in West Midlands and offering support to the local community.
You and your children
If you're an adult caring for children, the websites below can offer the following support:
- Advice if you are concerned about a child’s safety
- Information on how the law can protect your children
- Practical advice on issues such as housing and benefits
- Advice if you are concerned about a child’s emotional health
Barnardo's
Barnardo's helps children, young people and their families over the long term to overcome the most severe problems like abuse, homelessness and poverty. Use the website to find an office near to you.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
The NSPCC is dedicated to ending cruelty to children in the UK. The free 24 hour helpline provides information and advice for anyone concerned about a child's safety. The Asian Helpline and Cymru/Wales Helpline can be accessed via the main helpline number.
Parentline Plus
Parentline Plus is a national charity providing help and support to anyone caring for children, for families living together as well as apart. It runs a freephone helpline and has a community of parents supporting each other through forums and blogs.
Young Minds
YoungMinds is a national charity committed to improving the mental health of children and young people. It provides a free telephone helpline offering information and advice to any adult with concerns about the mental health of a child or young person.
Single parent families
Gingerbread
Gingerbread is a national charity that works for and with single parent families to improve their lives. The charity provides a freephone helpline for advice on issues affecting single parents.
Specialist groups
Reunite International (for parents of abducted children)
Reunite is a UK charity that specialises in international parental child abduction. The advice line offers practical impartial advice and support to parents and family members who have had their child abducted or who feel their child may be at risk of abduction.
Support for children and young people
The following websites are exclusively for children who may be suffering from problems including domestic abuse or neglect.
ChildLine
Free, 24 hour telephone helpline for children and young people who need to talk about any problems they may be experiencing, including family issues, neglect and bullying.
ChildLine
Free, 24 hour telephone helpline for children and young people who need to talk about any problems they may be experiencing, including family issues, neglect and bullying.
The Hideout
Website for children and young people to inform them about domestic violence, help them identify whether it's happening in their home and provide indirect and informal support.
Practical help
If you have experienced domestic violence and need help with practical matters, see the websites below for advice and information on housing, money and legal entitlements.
Housing
Refuge
Refuge is a national charity that provides emergency accommodation and support for women and children experiencing domestic violence. Some of the refuges are for women of specific cultural backgrounds.
Shelter
Shelter is a charity that works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing. It gives advice, information and advocacy to people in housing need based in England and Scotland.
Legal advice and entitlements
Citizens Advice Bureau
The Citizens Advice service offers free information and advice on legal, money and other problems. Go to the website for online advice or to find your nearest office.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
CICA is a government organisation that can pay money to people who have been physically or mentally injured because they were the blameless victim of a violent crime. The free service enables you to find out if you qualify and apply for compensation online
Community Legal Advice
A government organisation that offers free, confidential and independent advice on your legal rights if you are resident in England or Wales.
Immigration Advisory Service
The IAS is an independent UK charity providing representation and advice in immigration and asylum law. Services are free to people who are eligible and advice is provided confidentially. Go to the website to find your local IAS office.
National Centre for Domestic Violence
NCDV helps survivors of domestic violence obtain an injunction, free of charge. It works in close partnership with the police, solicitors and other support agencies to help survivors obtain speedy protection.
Help for perpetrators
The websites below explain what help is available to those who are responsible for domestic violence and who want to change.
Respect
Respect is the UK membership association for domestic violence perpetrator programmes and associated support services. It runs a helpline offering information and advice to people who are abusive to their partners and want help to stop.
