Domestic abuse helplines
Domestic Abuse is a crime.
If you are in immediate danger always call the police, they have a duty to protect and help you.
From a mobile: Dial 999. If you don't speak or answer questions, press 55 when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police. Pressing 55 only works on mobiles and doesn't allow the police to track your location. If you don't press 55 your call will be ended.
From a landline: Dial 999. If you don't speak or answer questions and the operator can only hear background noise, they'll transfer your call to the police. If you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds in case you pick it up again. Calling 999 from a landline automatically gives the police information about your location.
If you visit any of these websites, please read the ‘hide your visit’ / ‘cover your tracks’ / safety information – or click on ‘Exit Website’
Codeword scheme - ANI
If you are experiencing domestic abuse and need immediate help, ask for ‘ANI’ in a participating pharmacy. ‘ANI’ stands for Action Needed Immediately but also phonetically sounds like the name Annie. If a pharmacy has the ‘Ask for ANI’ logo on display, it means they’re ready to help. They will offer you a private space, provide a phone and ask if you need support from the police or other domestic abuse support services.
24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline - Freephone: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours)
Gov.UK
Domestic Abuse - How to get help
Controlling or Coercive Behaviour
NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/getting-help-for-domestic-violence/
Refuge
Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours) www.refuge.org.uk
Thirty-five years ago Refuge set up the world's first refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence. Since then, Refuge has grown to become the largest provider of emergency accommodation and emotional and practical support to women and children in the country and the leading voice in the campaign to end domestic violence.
Women's Aid Federation of England
For women who are experiencing or have experienced physical, mental, sexual or domestic violence or abuse. Offers advice, support and crisis intervention to abused women.
SafeLives
SafeLives is a UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good. We work with organisations across the UK to transform the response to domestic abuse. We want what you would want for your best friend. We listen to survivors, putting their voices at the heart of our thinking. We look at the whole picture for each individual and family to get the right help at the right time to make families everywhere safe and well.
Love Respect
Aimed at 16-25 year olds, Love Don’t Feel Bad explores what is and isn’t a healthy relationship – from physical violence to coercive control, how to get help and what the law can do for you.
Scottish Women’s Aid
Helpline: 0800 027 1234
Scottish Women's Aid is the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. We play a vital role campaigning and lobbying for effective responses to domestic abuse. An important aspect of our work is ensuring that women and children who have experienced domestic abuse get the services they need, both from local Women’s Aid groups and from the agencies they are likely to contact. Our members are local Women’s Aid groups which provide specialist services to women, children and young people. These include safe refuge accommodation, information and support. For queries relating to our policy or campaign work please contact us, for support if you are experiencing abuse please contact Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline.
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Helpline: 0800 027 1234
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We support anyone in Scotland who has experienced, or is at risk of experiencing domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as those concerned about someone they know experiencing these. We can discuss your options and provide contact details to relevant support agencies. We will help you regardless of age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or background. If English is not your first language, we can speak to you through a confidential translation service.
Welsh Women’s Aid
Live Fear Free Helpline: 0808 8010 800
Text service: 078600 77333
The helpline provides a bilingual free and confidential information and support service for women, children and men in Wales who are experiencing or who have experienced abuse at the hands of someone close to them.
Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation
25hr Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline: 0808 802 1414
Women’s Aid provides a wide range of services to women and children affected by domestic violence throughout Northern Ireland. We offer a safe place to stay in refuges or outreach support for those remaining at home. Children’s physical and emotional needs are met through many types of support.
Mankind
Helpline: 01823 334244
The Mankind Initiative supports male victims of domestic violence, though it helps all callers regardless of sex, race or sexual orientation. Call the helpline on 01823 334 244 at any time to receive up-to-date information on helpline availability or check out services at website. There is also a referral system for single men or men with children fleeing from domestic violence.
Respect Men's Advice Line
Helpline: 0808 801 0327
Offers advice, information and listening support for men with experience of domestic abuse. Includes help for men in same-sex and heterosexual relationships.
LGBT Foundation
Helpline: 0345 3 30 30 30
LGBT Foundation Domestic Abuse Support
LGBT Foundation provide a wide range of support services to lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. We also work with healthcare and other professionals to help make public services more accessible and inclusive for LGBT communities
Victim Support Helpline
Helpline: 0808 168 9111
Domestic Abuse We don’t just help people who’ve recently experienced domestic abuse – we’re here to support both men and women, weeks, months and years afterwards. All of our services are confidential, free and available to anyone who's experienced domestic violence.
Southall Black Sisters
Helpline: 020 8571 0800
www.southallblacksisters.org.uk
We highlight and challenge all forms of violence against women and girls, empowering them to gain control over their lives & assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom.
FCO Forced Marriage Unit
Helpline: 020 7008 0151 (or 0044 20 7008 0151 if you are overseas)
Our Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) is dedicated both to preventing British nationals being forced into marriage overseas and to assisting anyone in the UK faced with the prospect of being forced into a marriage. If you are worried that you might be forced into a marriage or are worried about someone else who may be, you should contact us.
Honour Network - Karma Nirvana
Helpline: 0800 599 9247
Karma Nirvana is a registered Charity that supports victims and survivors of forced marriage and honour based abuse. We are your listening ear in confidence and many of us have the experience of forced marriage and issues related to honour based abuse. We are here for you when you’re at home or when you leave and will talk over the phone wherever you are. One of our key principles is that we never talk to or engage with your family. Our commitment and loyalty is to you and as we understand the fears when family members become involved.
Iranian & Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation
Helpline: Mon to Fri 9.30-5.30 0207 920 6460
Emergency numbers 24 hrs
Kurdish / Arabic 07846 275246
Farsi / Dari / Turkish 07846 310157
The Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation provides advice and support to Middle Eastern women and girls living in the UK who are facing ‘honour’ based violence, domestic abuse, forced marriage or female genital mutilation.
Ashiana Project (London)
Helpline: 020 8539 0427 www.ashiana.org.uk
We believe everyone has the right to live a life free of oppression, fear and violence. We are a charitable organisation based in London, to help women from the Asian, Turkish & Iranian community get help when they need it. We are here to offer our help support and guidance to Women in need. We offer confidential and culturally specific advice, support and information to our clients. Our aim is to empower the women and young people who use our services so that they are able to make informed choices and decisions about their future.
Ashiana (Sheffield)
Helpline: 0114 255 5740 www.ashianasheffield.org
Ashiana Sheffield has been in existence as an organisation since 1981 and currently provides refuge accommodation and floating/outreach support services to Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) women, children and young people who are survivors of partner and family abuse, including forced marriages and honour-based violence, or who have been trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and/or domestic servitude. We offer confidential and culturally specific advice, support and information to our clients.
Freedom Charity
24/7 Helpline: 0845 607 0133 www.freedomcharity.org.uk
We aim to empower young people to feel they have the tools and confidence to support each other and have practical ways in which they can help their best friend around the issues of family relationships which can lead to early and forced marriage and dishonour based violence. The Help-line and Textline (text ‘4freedom’ to 88802) are manned by trained professionals to help victims of forced marriage and their friends who are seeking help, support and advice.
The Freedom Programme
Helpline: 01942 262 270
The Programme was primarily designed for women as victims of domestic violence, since research shows that in the vast majority of cases of serious abuse are male on female. However, the programme, when provided as an intensive two day course, is also suitable for men, whether abusive and wishing to change their attitudes and behaviour or whether victims of same sex domestic abuse themselves. The Freedom Programme examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions of abusive men and the responses of victims and survivors. The aim is to help them to make sense of and understand what has happened to them, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess. The Freedom Programme also describes in detail how children are affected by being exposed to this kind of abuse and very importantly how their lives are improved when the abuse is removed.
Stay Safe East
Helpline: 07865 340 122
Stay Safe East is a unique user-led organisation run by disabled people, providing specialist and holistic advocacy and support services to disabled people from diverse communities in London who are victims/survivors of domestic or sexual violence, hate crime, harassment and other forms of abuse.
Sign Health
Helpline: 07800 003421
signhealth.org.uk/with-deaf-people/domestic-abuse
SignHealth provides domestic abuse support and advocacy to Deaf people across the UK. You can find videos in BSL relating to domestic abuse on their website.
Books
Living with a Dominator - Pat Craven
Why Does He Do That: Inside the minds of angry and controlling men – Lundy Bancroft
Power and Control: Why Charming Men Make Danger Lovers – Sandra Horley
Women who love too much - Robin Norwood