Support for survivors of and those experiencing Abuse and Forced Marriage
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour, by a partner, ex partner or family member. It can also be by a perpetrated by a close friend. Some people who grew up in care may also have abused by foster carers or others in their care setting.
But it isn’t just physical violence – domestic abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual, economic and psychological abuse. Abusive behaviour can happen in any relationship and it can continue even after the relationship has ended.
What does an Unhealthy Relationship look like?
This could look like...
An unhealthy relationship is one where a someone is not being treated with respect. They may be forced or coerced into doing things they aren’t comfortable with, be made to behave in a certain way, or be made to feel they aren’t good enough.
A person may:
lack close relationships other than with one particular person
be isolated from friends and family
be prevented from working or going to school/college/university
have their money taken away or controlled
have access to food, drinks and day-to-day items restricted
have their time controlled or heavily monitored
have their social media accounts controlled or heavily monitored
be told what to wear
feel pressured to do things they are not comfortable with
be put down or criticised
experience threats of violence if they don’t behave a certain way
experience threats to loved ones or pets
be threatened with damage to their personal property
Source: NSPCC Learning
General - support for everyone
DASH Charity
Their Helpline - 01753 549865 - is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 4.30pm. If you need help outside these hours you can leave a message if its safe to do so or send them message via the form on their website. Their team will call you back as soon as they can, the next working day.
Refuge Accommodation
If refuge space is needed, please call DASH Charity on 0333 344 5371. If they can't offer space in their refuge, they will use their network of UK refuges to help individuals and families find the right space, quickly and safely. You may also wish to see our page on Emergency Help (more info on refuges is here)
Website: DASH Charity
Respect: Men's Advice Line
Future Pathways
Future Pathways supports in care abuse survivors. We help adults who were victims of historical abuse in a care setting in Scotland as children. Our aim is to help them lead a happier and more fulfilled life.
Call (free): 0808 164 2005, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
Childhood abuse - including recovery from historic abuse
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) is the UK’s leading national charity offering support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect.
They run a free support line, support groups and we deliver training and consultancy to professionals who work with adult survivors of child abuse.
Helpline: 0808 801 0331
Website: https://napac.org.uk/
Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through.
You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are here to support you.
Helpline: 0800 1111 (free)
Free Your Mind exists to support individuals that have experienced childhood domestic violence and poor mental health as a result.
They provide tools, support and community to help people rebuild their sense of self, and to empower them by providing a number of Holistic Therapies such as Mindfulness CBT, EFT Tapping and Meditation, Reiki.
Website: https://www.freeyourmindcic.com/
Family Matters UK are the largest provider of childhood sexual abuse and rape therapy in the country.
They can support you with free counselling and support from a trained Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA’S) for both children and adults to support rape and sexual assault victims to come to terms with the aftermath of their assault.
Helpline: 01474 537 392
Website: https://www.familymattersuk.org/
LGBT abuse support
Galop provides confidential and independent advice and support for LGBT people who have experienced sexual assault, abuse or violence. They provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe space to talk, whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity.
Website: Galop UK
Bi-Survivors Network are a group of bisexual abuse survivors facilitating peer-led, online support groups for survivors of sexual and/or domestic violence/abuse.
They are also advocates for bisexual, pansexual, and other non-monosexual (bi+) survivors, working to ensure that our voices are heard and our needs met.
Website: http://bisurvivorsnetwork.org/
The Albert Kennedy Trust (akt) supports lgbt young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile or abusive environment.
akt can help you to:
Stay safe, Provide support and advocacy to find emergency accommodation, Access specialist support, Develop skills, identify and achieve life goals
Website: https://www.akt.org.uk/get-help
Honour-based violence, FGM and Forced Marriage
Karma Nirvana is a National charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims.
They run a national helpline offering direct support and guidance to victims and professionals. They also act as expert witnesses in court, speak out in schools and attend awareness raising events nationally and internationally.
Helpline: 0800 5999 247
Website: https://karmanirvana.org.uk/
IKWRO
IKWRO’s mission is to protect Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls who are at risk of ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage, child marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence and to promote their rights.
They provide direct services for women and girls, including advocacy, training and counselling.
Helplines: Mon to Fri 9.30-5.30 0207 920 6460
For out-of-hours emergencies: Kurdish / Arabic/English: 07846 275246
Farsi / Dari / English: 07846 310157
Website: http://ikwro.org.uk/
FORWARD UK provides advice, one-to-one support and signposting to other services for women and girls affected by any form of violence. They also answer questions about female genital mutilation (FGM), other harmful practices, domestic and sexual violence. Their services for African women and girls are in London but they also have partners across the UK we can direct you to.
Helpline: 020 8960 4000
Website: https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/how-we-work-for-women-and-girls/support-services/
SDAFMH's helpline is here to support anyone in Scotland with experience of domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as their family members, friends, colleagues and professionals who support them. They provide a confidential, sensitive service to anyone who calls them.
Helpline: 0800 027 1234
Website: https://sdafmh.org.uk/