Domestic abuse

Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA)

Across the UK

• Domestic abuse
• Bereaved families

Families and friends bereaved by fatal domestic abuse, including domestic homicide, domestic abuse-related suicide and unexplained deaths. Specialist advocacy and peer support, including through reviews after a death, inquests and other inquiries. Its services are free.

Aurora New Dawn

Across the UK

• Domestic abuse
• Stalking
• Rape and sexual abuse
• Armed forces

Serving members of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, and their family members, who are experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence or stalking. Its Armed Forces team gives one-to-one support and advocacy, including through the Service or criminal justice system, and recovery groups; it supports women and men aged 16 and over, in the UK or overseas. The service is free, confidential and independent of the chain of command, whether or not you have reported to the police.

Galop

Across the UK

• Domestic abuse
• Rape and sexual abuse
• LGBT+ people

LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse or violence, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime and conversion practices, and the friends, family and professionals worried about them. Its helpline gives emotional support and helps you explore your options, and its advocates and caseworkers can give longer-term support. It also supports LGBT+ young people aged 13 to 25.

• Domestic abuse
• Women

Women and children experiencing domestic abuse who need a refuge space in London, through its Refuge Referral Line. It also runs refuges and community support, including domestic abuse advocates, in parts of London and the south east of England. Its free Bright Sky app gives information to anyone worried that someone they know is experiencing domestic abuse.

• Domestic abuse
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage
• Rape and sexual abuse
• Faith settings
• Women

Jewish women and children affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence. Its sexual violence service is for Jewish women and girls aged 16 and over, however long ago it happened and whoever did it, including a community member or leader, with advocacy, practical and emotional support and counselling. It also supports women facing Gett refusal (when a Jewish divorce is withheld) or forced marriage.

Karma Nirvana

Across the UK

• Domestic abuse
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage

Anyone affected by honour-based abuse or forced marriage, whatever their age, gender, sexuality or faith, and professionals supporting them. Its national Honour Based Abuse Helpline gives confidential emotional and practical support, with help in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English.

ManKind Initiative

Across the UK

• Domestic abuse
• Men and boys

Men experiencing domestic abuse from a current or former wife, partner (including a same-sex partner) or husband, and their friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and employers. Its confidential helpline gives listening support, information and signposting, including to local services, emergency housing and legal help.

Men’s Advice Line (run by Respect)

Across the UK

• Domestic abuse
• Men and boys

Men, including trans and non-binary people, who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse, and the friends, family and frontline workers supporting them. Its advisors give emotional support, practical advice and information by phone and webchat, and point you to other services.

Men’s Advisory Project (MAP NI)

Northern Ireland

• Domestic abuse
• Stalking
• Men and boys

Men experiencing domestic abuse in Northern Ireland, including men who have left an abusive relationship and still feel its effects. It offers confidential counselling, and information and referral to other services. Its website also asks men who are being stalked to seek its help.

Muslim Women’s Network Helpline (MWN Helpline)

• Domestic abuse
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage
• Faith settings
• Women
• Black and minoritised communities

A faith and culturally sensitive helpline and counselling service, run by Muslim Women’s Network UK. It is mainly for Muslim women and girls, but also supports women of other faiths or none, and men and boys. It helps with issues including domestic abuse, spiritual abuse, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and rape and sexual violence, and counselling is available in Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Bengali and Arabic; there may be a waiting list.

Nexus NI

Northern Ireland

• Domestic abuse
• Rape and sexual abuse
• If you were abused as a child

People aged 8 and over affected by sexual abuse, in childhood or as an adult: specialist counselling across Northern Ireland after you refer yourself. It also manages Northern Ireland’s Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline for anyone aged 18 and over affected by domestic or sexual abuse, and for people worried about someone.

Refuge

England

• Domestic abuse
• Women

Women and children experiencing domestic abuse, and friends, family and colleagues who want to help. It runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, refuges and community services, and may be able to help men through its one-stop shops or community services.

Scottish Women’s Aid

Scotland

• Domestic abuse
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage

Anyone affected by domestic abuse or forced marriage in Scotland, and the people supporting them, through Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline, which it manages. Its website helps you find your local Women’s Aid service, which gives free and confidential support to women, children and young people.

Scottish Women’s Rights Centre

Scotland

• Domestic abuse
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage
• Stalking
• Rape and sexual abuse
• Women

Women aged 16 and over in Scotland who have been affected by violence or abuse, including stalking, domestic abuse, rape and forced marriage. It gives free and confidential legal information, advice and representation, and advocacy support. Its advocacy helpline is the first point of contact, and volunteer solicitors run a free legal advice line.

• Domestic abuse
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage
• Faith settings
• Women
• Black and minoritised communities

A ‘by and for’ service for Sikh Panjabi women and children affected by domestic, sexual or spiritual abuse, with a team of female advisers. It gives culturally sensitive advocacy, for example on safety, protection orders and housing, and free counselling for women and girls who have experienced domestic, sexual or spiritual abuse. Its helpline gives confidential support in Panjabi and English.

• Domestic abuse
• Rape and sexual abuse
• Women

Women living in parts of London affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence, and people worried about them. Its free Advice Line can refer you on to its refuges, advocacy, counselling and children’s services, and it also runs a Rape Crisis service. Some of its borough services also support men.

• Domestic abuse
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage
• Women
• Black and minoritised communities

Black and minoritised women of all ages, and their children, facing domestic or sexual abuse, forced marriage or so-called honour-based abuse. Anyone can call its helpline for free advice; ongoing casework is for women living in Ealing, Hounslow or Hillingdon, except forced marriage casework, which it does nationally. It does not support male victims but can refer them on.

Surviving Economic Abuse

Across the UK

• Domestic abuse
• Economic abuse

Information and resources for anyone whose current or former partner has controlled their money or finances, including a guide and a banking support directory. Women aged 18 and over can share experiences and support each other in its online Survivors’ Forum. It does not give one-to-one support or advice.

Survivors Voices

Online

• Domestic abuse
• If you were abused as a child
• Faith settings
• Black and minoritised communities

Survivors of any kind of abuse, trauma or violence, as a child or as an adult. Survivor-led peer support groups, mostly on Zoom, including a general group, a group for Black and racially marginalised people (online or in person in south London) and a faith and abuse group; you join by invitation after a chat. It does not offer therapy or counselling.

• Domestic abuse
• Rape and sexual abuse
• Women

Runs the Live Fear Free Helpline, the national helpline for Wales, for anyone who has experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence or violence against women, or is worried about someone. Staff listen, help you think about your safety and options, and tell you about local services. You can get support in Welsh, English and other languages.

Women’s Aid Federation NI

Northern Ireland

• Domestic abuse
• Stalking
• Women

Women and children experiencing domestic abuse in Northern Ireland. Local Women’s Aid groups give support, information and emergency accommodation, and there is a weekday webchat. The helpline shown here is run by Nexus NI, not by Women’s Aid.

• Domestic abuse
• Women

A federation of local services for women and children in England, working to end domestic abuse. It has no helpline of its own: use its online directory to find refuges and local services, read its Survivor’s Handbook, or join its online Survivors’ Forum (women over 18).