Domestic violence

Domestic violence

Domestic abuse, rape, forced marriage and sexual violence

Domestic violence

The current need to stay at home may increase the danger that some women are in from domestic violence and other forms of violence against women and girls.

If you are worried about someone knowing you have visited this website please read this safety information about covering your tracks online from Women's Aid.

Asian Women's Resource Centre provide support services in the following languages: Bengali, Guajarati, Hindi, Hinko, Konkani, Marathi, Pashto, Patwari, Punjabi, Urdu, Farsi, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Kurdish, Turkish & Azerbaijan. Their service ensures cultural sensitivity, confidentiality and listening time in a safe, non-judgemental environment.

Bright Sky app is a free to download mobile app, launched by Hestia in partnership with Hestia. It provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know. It can also be used by professionals working with people affected by domestic abuse to find information.

emergencySMS: The emergencySMS service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard. Simply by sending an SMS message to 999 you can call for help and the emergency services will be able to reply to you.

Karma Nirvana supports victims of honour based abuse and forced marriage. Their helpline is currently available Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm, on 08005999247 or email support@karmanirvana.org.uk.

Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women's Organisation works to promote Kurdish and Middle Easterm women's human rights and quality of life. They have put information about services that they are currently able to deliver on their website.

Forced Marriage Unit provides support to help stop a forced marriage or if you need help leaving a marriage you have been forced into.

National Domestic Violence Helpline is a 24 hour freephone domestic violence line run by Refuge. All calls are completely confidential.  Translation facilities are available. Call 0808 2000 247.

Rape Crisis offers a helpline and webchat and has an updated list of support for survivors of sexual violence.

Respect offer phone support for male victims of domestic abuse on their Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327. They also offer support to people who are worried about their behaviour at home. If you are hurting the ones you love you can choose to stop click here for more information or call them on 0808 8024040.

Rights of Women provide legal information and advice to women on family, criminal, immigration and sexual harrassment.

Safeline is a specialised charity working to prevent sexual abuse and to support those affected in their recovery. It offers its services to people of all ages, gender, sexuality or race, who are survivors of abuse. Family members and friends of abuse survivors can also use Safeline’s services.

Safe spaces is a scheme provide by UK SAYS NO MORE. Walk into any Boots UK store, Superdrug Pharmacy, Morrisons Pharmacy, or one of the independent pharmacies involved in the scheme, go to the healthcare counter and ask to use their consultancy room. The pharmacist will show you to the Safe Space. Once you are inside, all the specialist domestic abuse support information will be available for you to access, and you can make that call safely.

Solace Women's Aid support women and children in London to build safe and strong lives, with futures free from male abuse and violence. Their helpline number is 0808 802 5565 or email advocacy@solacewomensaid.org (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm).

Southall Black Sisters is a secular and inclusive organisation, established in 1979 to meet the needs of Black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women. They provide family law, housing and immigration advice.

The Maya Centre provide a free counselling service in Islington for women who have experienced mental health issues, trauma, gender based violence, including domestic violence, physical abuse or childhood sexual abuse and harmful traditional practices. They have closed their centre, but are able to offer support and counselling by phone and online.

Women and Girls Network provide a Pan-London helpline for survivors of sexual violence. The helpline is available to anyone 14+ who identifies as female and has been affected by sexual violence at any point in their lives. The helpline is for emotional support only. Tel 0808 801 0770 Mon – Fri 10am – 12:30pm and 2:30pm – 4.00pm. Also late evenings on Wed 6pm – 9pm. 

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