SUPPORT SERVICES
If you need help or more information about abuse in relationships you can speak to someone from any of the organisations listed below. All calls are treated confidentially.
ALL WALES DOMESTIC ABUSE & SEXUAL VIOLENCE HELPLINE
The All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline is a bilingual information signposting service, to help and guide people with experience of domestic abuse or sexual violence, who are in need of information or access to support services.
Open 24 hours
BROKEN RAINBOW
Broken Rainbow offers support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experiencing domestic violence. It also aims to raise awareness in the LGBT community and elsewhere of the impact of homophobic, transphobic and same sex domestic violence on the lives of LGBT people.
Broken Rainbow runs a Helpline staffed by highly trained operators, experienced in the specifics of LGBT domestic violence, with many coming from frontline services. They understand the issues you’ll face and go through extensive training to provide you with the best possible support.
0300 999 5428
Opening Times: Monday 2pm-8pm, Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday 2pm-8pm
BROOK
Brook’s mission is to enable young people to enjoy their sexuality without harm. Brook provides free and confidential sexual health services specifically for young people under 25. The Ask Brook service provides sexual health information, support and signposting for all young people under 25 anywhere in the UK.
Telephone 0808 802 1234 – free from all telephones including mobile phones
Text Ask Brook on 07717 989 023
Brook is open Monday – Friday from 9am – 6pm (closed on Thursdays between 2pm – 3.30pm).
CHILDLINE
The UK’s free and confidential helpline is not just for children, it provides help for young people of all ages who are in distress or danger. Counsellors provide advice and support, by phone and online, 24 hours a day.
You can get help and advice about a wide range of issues, including violence and abuse in your relationship on the Childline website. You can also talk to a counsellor online, send an email or post on the message boards.
Whatever your worry, it’s better out than in.
0800 1111
Opening Times: Daily, open 24 hours a day
DUDLEY SAFE & SOUND
Safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership is committed to making Dudley a safe place in which to live, work and visit. They have produced some films that can help male victims of relationship abuse and those experiencing abuse in same sex partnerships, to view the videos visit
http://www.safeindudley.org/abuse/
EVAW
The End Violence Against Women Coalition is a unique coalition of organisations and individuals campaigning to end all forms of violence against women. The have a ‘schools safe for girls’ campaign as well as many useful reports and resources.
http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/
THE HAVENS
The havens are specialist centres in London for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted. The havens help everyone, men and women, young people and children of all ages. They can help you deal with and recover from the emotional and physical effects following an assault.
The havens are based in Camberwell, Paddington and Whitechapel. To make an appointment phone:
- Camberwell: 020 3299 1599
- Paddington: 020 3312 1101
- Whitechapel: 020 7247 4787
HEART
Heart is an EU-funded programme that offers help and advice to young people on having healthy relationships with boy or girl friends. It is particularly concerned where young people are feeling pressurised into something they don’t want to do. It runs a 24-hour, anonymous and confidential helpline, supplied by Childline.
0800 1111
Opening Times: Daily, open 24 hours a day.
THE HIDEOUT
The Hideout is a dedicated website for young people up to the age of 21 where they can find information about relationship abuse and where to get help. There is also a moderated messageboard where young people can post about what’s going on in their relationships and get direct information and support.
IKWRO
IKWRO helps Middle Eastern women and girls (Iranian, Kurdish, Arab, Afghan and Turkish) who are living in the UK and provide confidential advice on issues including domestic violence, “honour” based violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, separation and divorce, child custody, housing and benefits. They speak Farsi, Arabic, Kurdish, Dari, Turkish and English.
Advice
We can speak with you on the telephone, see you at our London office or meet you at another place which is safe and convenient for you. All our services are completely confidential.
Farsi / Dari / Turkish 24 hrs:
07846 310157
Kurdish / Arabic 24 hrs:
07846 275246
0207 920 6460
9.30 to 5.30
THE MEN’S ADVICE LINE
A helpline for male victims of domestic violence, age not important.
0808 801 0327
Opening Times: Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm
RAPE CRISIS
Rape Crisis Centres offer a range of services for women and girls who have been raped or experienced another form of sexual violence. Rape Crisis Centres are not just for women in ‘crisis’ – many women contact them years after they have been raped or sexually abused. You can contact the National Sexual Violence Helpline for help and advice and can find contact details for your nearest Rape Crisis Centre on Rape Crisis’ website.
0808 802 9999
Opening Times: Daily, 12pm – 2:30pm, and 7pm – 9:30pm
REFUGE
Refuge is the national charity which provides a wide range of specialist domestic violence services to women and children experiencing domestic violence. Refuge provides safe, emergency accommodation through a growing network of refuges throughout the country and runs the Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline in partnership with Women’s Aid. Refuge also offers counselling, community based outreach services, specialist services for minority ethnic communities and a growing team of independent advocates to support women through the court process.
0808 2000 247
Opening Times: Daily, open 24 hours a day.
RESPECT
Respect runs support services and programmes for men and women who inflict violence in relationships. They also provide an advice line for men who are victims of domestic violence.
0808 802 4040
Opening Times: Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm
RESPECT NOT FEAR
The Respect not Fear site was developed by the Nottinghamshire domestic violence forum, in consultation with young people.
The site contains games and advice which can help you think about your relationships, or you can make a pledge to find out what you can expect in a relationship and what shouldn’t be tolerated.
The Respect not Fear App is free and provides you with games such as the pyramid and respect’o’meter, it also gives you instant access to important information and support services. Clickhere to download the app.
SAFER SCHOOLS
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) believes that all those who work in education should have the support and information they need to enable them to become the best education professionals they can be. ATL has set up Safer Schools as a platform for education professionals, leaders, academics, young people, parents, practitioners and expert policy makers to come together in one place to discuss, debate and learn about a range of issues that affect our young people.
www.saferschools.org.uk/
THE SAMARITANS
Samaritans provides confidential, non-judgmental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair (including suicidal thoughts), 24 hours a day. They are there for you if you’re worried about something, feel upset or confused, or just want to talk to someone. You can contact The Samaritans by telephone, email or letter, or talk to someone in person in most of their branches.
08457 90 90 90
Opening Times: Daily, open 24 hours a day.
SEXUAL ASSAULT REFERRAL CENTRES
Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) provide a safe environment where victims of rape and sexual assault can get support and advice. They also provide the possibility of making a report to the police and undertaking a forensic examination (if this is what you choose). They are open to all victims, regardless of whether they want to report a crime to the police or not. To find out if there is a SARC in your area please see this website.
If you already know that you want to report to the police, a specially trained officer will be able to accompany you to a SARC if there is one in your area. If you are unsure what to do, need advice, or don’t want to talk to the police, contact the national sexual violence helpline on 0808 802 9999.
0808 802 9999
Daily, 12pm – 2:30pm and 7pm – 9:30pm
SOUTHALL BLACK SISTERS
Southall Black Sisters provides information, advice, advocacy, practical help, counselling and support to Asian, African-Caribbean and other minority women and children experiencing domestic and sexual violence (including forced marriage, dowry abuse and honour crimes) in in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Urdu (language line is used for interpret for other langauges).
www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/
0208 571 0800
Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm.
SURVIVORS TRUST
The Survivors Trust is a charity that works with people who are victims or survivors of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse. It provides a range of counselling, therapeutic and support services.
01788 550554
VICTIM SUPPORT
Victim Support offers free and confidential help to victims of crime, their families, friends and anyone else affected. They give information, emotional support and practical help. You don’t have to report a crime to the police to get their help and can get support at anytime, no matter when the crime happened.
0845 30 30 900
WELSH WOMEN’S AID
Welsh Women’s Aid was founded in 1978 to campaign and lobby for improvements in public policy and government legislation in relation to women and children experiencing domestic abuse in Wales.
Welsh Women’s Aid is the national umbrella organisation representing 29 local Women’s Aid groups situated throughout Wales. Our member groups provide direct services for women and children who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic abuse.
WOMEN’S AID
Women’s Aid is the key national domestic violence charity that co-ordinates and supports an England-wide network of over 340 local domestic and sexual violence organisations running over 900 refuge, advocacy and outreach services. Women’s Aid campaigns for effective legal protection and services and works to prevent abuse through public awareness, education and training. It also provides vital 24 hour lifeline services through the 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline (in partnership with Refuge) and a survivors’ messageboard on their website.
0808 2000 247
Opening Times: Daily, open 24 hours a day.
OTHER USEFUL LINKS
Advice for girls from NHS on relationships
www.nhs.uk/livewell/teengirls/Pages/Teengirlshome.aspx
Advice for boys from NHS on relationships
www.nhs.uk/livewell/teenboys/Pages/Teenboyshome.aspx
NHS Livewell advice on relationships
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Sexandyoungpeople/Pages/Readytogoalltheway.aspx
Hafan Cymru are focused on preventing abuse and promoting independence in Wales.
Welsh Women’s Aid
0808 80 10 800