Directory of Support Services | Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse

Call 999 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.

This page provides an overview of the national - and some local - support services available to anyone affected by domestic abuse. This is not an exhaustive list. If you would like your organisation added to the list, please contact support@eida.og.uk

National

Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse draw on personal and professional experience of major criminal justice processes like Domestic Homicide Reviews, and other related inquiries and provide emotional, practical and specialist peer support to those left behind after fatal domestic homicide. Call: 07887 488 464.

Galop run a free helpline for LGBT+ people who have experienced domestic abuse, available Monday to Thursday 10am to 8.30pm and 10am until 4.30pm on Fridays. Call: 0800 999 5428.

Karma Nirvana is the longest established charity specialising in providing support for people impacted by Honour Based Abuse. They produce data on Honour Based Abuse, train frontline practitioners and professionals, and campaign for change, working with parliamentarians and policy-makers. Their national helpline is open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. Call: 0800 5999 247.

The Mankind Initiative run a confidential helpline available Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. Call: 01823 334244.

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline, is a freephone number, open 24 hours a day, run by Refuge. Call: 0808 2000 247.

Respect run Men's Advice Line, a confidential helpline for male survivors, available Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm. Call: 0808 801 0327. They also run Respect, a confidential helpline for perpetrators of domestic abuse. Call: 0808 802 4040.

The Revenge Porn Helpline run an advice and support line, available Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. Call: 0345 600 0459.

In Wales

Welsh Women’s Aid run a confidential ‘Live Fear Free’ Helpline, open 24 hours a day. Call: 0808 80 10 800.

Dyn Wales run a free and confidential helpline for Heterosexual, Gay, Bisexual and Trans men who are experiencing domestic abuse in Wales, available Monday and Tuesday 10am to 4pm and Wednesday 10am to 1pm. Call: 0808 8010321.

For disability support

RNID offers information for deaf and hard of hearing people, their carers, families and professionals. Call 0808 808 0123 or text 07360 268 988.

RNIB's helpline offers information and support for anyone with visual impairment and sight problems. Call: 0303 123 9999.

Scope's helpline offers free advice and support for disabled people and their families. Call: 0808 800 3333.

Sign Health offers support to Deaf people affected by domestic abuse. Text: 07800 003421.

Stay Safe East is run by and for disabled people and supports survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, harassment and other forms of abuse in London. Tel/SMS: 07865 340 122.

For economic abuse

Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) produces a range of specialist resources on economic abuse for victim-survivors and the professionals supporting them.

For employers

Hestia's Respond to Abuse Advice line is a free resource for employers, run by Hestia. Employers can call Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, for support, guidance or information about domestic abuse and how to support employees and colleagues experiencing domestic abuse. Call 0203 879 3695 or email adviceline.EB@hestia.org.

For legal assistance

The Domestic Abuse Alliance runs an advice line with legal assistance for domestic abuse victims, available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Call: 0800 101 7110.

Affordable Justice offer legal services for women and calls are free. Call: 01482 711003.

The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) specialise in providing free, fast and effective support to survivors of domestic violence and abuse, usually by helping individuals obtain injunctions from their local county court. NCDV can make referrals to the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA). Call: 0800 970 2070.

RCJ Advice delivers free legal advice to people with a court case in the civil and family courts in England and Wales. Call: 0203 745 7707.

FLOWS is an England wide legal advice service offering free legal advice and support to front-line workers working with women responding to domestic abuse, and they can advise women themselves. Available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Call: 0203 745 7707. Email: flows@rcjadvice.org.uk.

CourtNav is an award winning tool which aids survivors in applying for protective injunctions. It generates relevant court forms and also the supporting statement necessary to apply for a protective order.

Rights of Women aim to provide women with the legal advice and information they need to understand and use the law and their legal rights via a free helpline. Visit the website for a list of Advice Lines.

Alison McCormack Solicitors provide support to victims of violence or abuse to claim compensation, through the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme. Call: 0151 294 6307. Email: info@alisonmccormacksolicitors.co.uk

For men affected by domestic abuse

SurvivorsUK is an inclusive service for male and non-binary survivors of sexual abuse, available Monday to Sunday 12pm to 8pm. Call 0203 598 3898.

For minoritised women affected by domestic abuse

Ashiana Network supports black and minority ethnic women and girls and is based in London. Call: 020 8539 0427.

BAWSO run a 24-hour helpline for black minority ethnic (BAME) and migrant victims of domestic abuse, violence and exploitation in Wales. Call: 0800 7318147.

Chayn supports survivors of abuse across borders and is trauma-informed, intersectional, multi-lingual and feminist. Chayn has an extensive resource section and connections with local services o nline.

Hersana supports black femmes affected by or at risk of experiencing gender-based violence across England and Wales. Call: 0333 016 9610.

IKWRO supports Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan women and girls living in the UK, who have experienced, or are at risk of all forms of “honour” based abuse, including; forced marriage, child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), or domestic abuse. Contact through their website.

Imkaan is the only UK based women's organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and Minority Women. Contact through their website.

Jewish Women's Aid run a helpline for Jewish women and girls affected by domestic abuse, available Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 9.30pm. Call: 0808 801 0500.

LAWRS - A helpline for Latin American migrant women, available Monday to Friday 11am to 1pm. Call: 0808 145 4909.

The Lioness Circle - a safe space in Croydon, 'by and for' women and girls who are born of the African and Caribbean heritage and recovering from domestic abuse or sexual violence. Make a referral online or email tamar@lionesstamar.com.

Nour specialise in providing Islamic support and advice through Islamic advisors (male and female) who are from a range of different Islamic schools of thought. They support members of the BAME community through a deep understanding and expertise in working with marginalised and 'hidden' communities. Contact through their website.

Southall Black Sisters offer specialist support, advocacy and information to Black and minoritised women suffering abuse. Their helpline is open between 9am and 5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Call: 020 8571 0800.

For stalking support

The Suzy Lampugh Trust runs the National Stalking Helpline, available 9.30am - 4pm weekdays except Wednesdays. Call 0808 802 0300.

For third party reporting

Crimestoppers gives people the power to speak up and pass on information about crime 100% anonymously. Call: 0800 555 111.

If you are concerned about a child

NSPCC run an advice and support line, available Monday to Friday 8am and 10pm and 9am and 6pm at the weekends. Call: 0808 800 5000.

For older people experiencing domestic abuse

Age UK has information on their website to support older people affected by domestic abuse, including advice lines.

For breakup and divorce coaching support

Sara Davison offers 1-1 coaching, online group coaching, online workshops and live retreats and all her staff are trained in taking action on domestic abuse. Call 01344 596021.

For support on recovery after abuse

Get Out Get Love Programme: A self-delivered digital programme, supporting education on why we enter and stay in abuse – and what recovery needs emerge from this experience. The programme empowers users to address their own recovery, via a long-term programme that covers also emotional control, closure and self-worth. For all sexes, sexualities and ages – also available as a self-help book by the same name.

Support around technology

Women’s Aid offers guidance on how to cover your tracks online.

Refuge offers guidance on tech safety including how to think through the technology in your home, how to secure it and a “digital break up tool”.

Safelives also has information on digital and online safety.

Apps

Bright Sky is a free app for anyone experiencing domestic abuse or worried about someone else. It helps to spot the signs, know how to respond and help someone to safety. Download Bright Sky and find links to posters and social media graphics about Bright Sky.

Hollie Guard is a personal protection app to help keep users safe whether they are working alone, travelling to an unknown place or meeting someone new. Find out more and download the app.

The free Railway Guardian app helps you report crime to British Transport Police and provides information on what to do if you see sexual harassment on trains or at stations. Find out more and download the app.

WEPROTECT is an instant victim referral app, developed by the Domestic Abuse Alliance. It allows anyone to refer a domestic abuse survivor to a team of trained legal advisors.

Safety Schemes

Safer Business Network is the umbrella not-for-profit organisation which implements and administers Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP’s) in inner London. Safer Business Network works across Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, the West End and parts of Camden. Each BCRP is implemented locally in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service, local councils and partner agencies. Find out more

The Safe Spaces scheme offers a private, safe area to people experiencing domestic abuse and is offered in the consulting areas of Boots UK, Morrisons, Superdrug and Well pharmacies, HSBC, TSB banks and independent pharmacies across the UK. These Safe Spaces are for that person to use as they wish, potentially to reach out to a friend or family member or call a support service.

Online Safe Spaces is a discreet pop-up window with support, advice and helpful contacts for those at risk of domestic abuse. It leaves no internet search history and offers quick options for people to exit the site when needed. Online Safe Spaces can be used on intranets and can be added to a website.

TecSOS is a specially adapted piece of technology that allows individual victim-survivors of domestic abuse to more easily alert the police to an emergency. UK police forces give TecSOS handsets to those experiencing domestic abuse. When a person activates a handset, this initiates a high priority 999 call so that police across several forces get alerted and can quickly access and understand that person’s details and circumstances.