Faith settings

• 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.

MACSAS (Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors)

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

Women and men sexually abused, as children or as adults, by ministers, clergy or others acting for a church, and their relatives, whether or not they are still part of a church. It is run by volunteers who are survivors themselves. It offers a helpline with limited hours, support by email and letter, and advocacy, such as help in dealing with the police or the church.

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.

Safe Spaces England and Wales

England and Wales

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

Adults aged 18 and over who were abused by someone in the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales, or harmed through their link with the Church, as a child or as an adult, recently or long ago. Trained advocates give free, confidential emotional support, practical help and advocacy, and you do not need to have reported the abuse. It is run by First Light and funded by the Church of England’s Archbishops’ Council and the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, but says it is independent of the Church.

• 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.

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.

Towards Healing

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

• If you were abused as a child
• Faith settings

Adults who were physically, emotionally or sexually abused or neglected as children by a priest, brother, religious sister, volunteer or employee of the Catholic Church anywhere in Ireland, including Northern Ireland, and their partners, spouses and children. It offers counselling face to face, online or by phone. It is funded by the Catholic Church in Ireland but says it is independent of the Church in its policies and in how it works.