If someone you know has been abused

Every helpline and scheme on this page was checked on the organisation’s own website or on GOV.UK, mygov.scot or nidirect. We last checked the schemes on 6 October 2026, and each helpline shows the date we last checked it. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.

If someone is in danger now

Call 999 for emergencies.

If you’re worried about a child

If a child may be at risk now, call 999. If you’re worried but it isn’t an emergency, you can talk it through with the NSPCC.

If your own child has been sexually abused, there is specialist support for parents and carers.

If someone tells you about abuse

• Listen. Let them talk at their own pace. You don’t need to ask for details.
• Believe them, and tell them so. Some people worry they won’t be believed.
• Tell them it isn’t their fault.
• Let them decide what happens next, unless someone is in danger. Pushing them to report or leave can make things harder.
• Help them find support if they want it. Our Support Directory lists organisations they can contact directly, and Understanding abuse explains the different kinds of abuse.

How to help a victim of domestic abuse

If you think someone is being abused by a partner, an ex-partner or a family member, the same steps apply: listen, believe them and let them lead. Domestic abuse helplines also talk to friends, family and colleagues who are worried about someone.

Helplines for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in our Support Directory.

Asking the police about a partner’s past (Clare’s Law)

If you’re worried that someone you know is in a relationship with an abusive person, you can ask the police whether that person has a history of abuse. This is called the “right to ask”. If the police decide to share information, they will normally tell the person at risk, not you.

• England and Wales: the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, often called Clare’s Law.
• Scotland: the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland.
• Northern Ireland: the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme.

Support takes time

Recovery isn’t a straight line. Someone may want to talk one day and not the next, or may go back to someone who harms them. Staying in touch, without judging, lets them know they can come to you when they’re ready.

Support for you

Supporting someone can be hard, and it can bring up difficult feelings of your own. You deserve support too.

If you’ve lost someone through domestic abuse, there is specialist support for bereaved families and friends.

Where this information comes from

• NSPCC: report child abuse
• We Stand: helpline
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline
• Men’s Advice Line
• GOV.UK: Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme guidance (England and Wales)
• Police Scotland: Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland
• PSNI: Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme
• Samaritans
• Mind: helplines
• AAFDA: help for families

Checked on 6 October 2026. Opening hours can change, so check the organisation’s own website too.