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.org.uk
National services
UK National - women
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline, is a freephone number for women victim-survivors, open 24 hours a day, run by Refuge. Call: 0808 2000 247.
Women’s Aid offer over 400 local services across the UK for women affected by domestic abuse.
Solace are a leading specialist charity supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence in England and Wales.
UK National - men
The Mankind Initiative run a confidential helpline available Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. Call: 01823 334244.
Respect run Men's Advice Line, a confidential helpline for male victim-survivors, available Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm. Call: 0808 801 0327.
SurvivorsUK provide an inclusive service for male and non-binary victim-survivors of sexual abuse, available Monday to Sunday 12pm to 8pm. Call: 0203 598 3898.
UK National - LGBT+
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.
Switchboard provide support to survivors through their Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs). They offer support with housing and accessing refuge services, financial issues and benefits, navigating the criminal justice system, and assisting with mental and physical health needs.
UK National – children
NSPCC run an advice and support line, available Monday to Friday 8am and 10pm and 9am and 6pm at the weekends. The advice line is confidential and provides advice to parents and carers. Call: 0808 800 5000.
In Wales
Welsh Women’s Aid run a confidential ‘Live Fear Free’ Helpline, open 24 hours a day. Call: 0808 801 0800.
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 801 0321.
In Scotland
Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is open 24 hours a day. Call: 0800 027 1234.
In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline is open 24 hours a day. Call: 0808 802 1414.
National – support 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 support 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.
imabi is a safeguarding platform helping tackle violence against women and girls - whether they are travelling (imabi Travel Guardian), at school (imabi Inspire), or in the workplace (imabi Pro). imabi Connect offers businesses and organisations a free, tailored platform area which links users to local authorities, trusted venues, schools, businesses, and safeguarding partners to help create safer environments.
TecSafe is a specially adapted softwarethat allows individual victim-survivors of domestic abuse to more easily alert the police to an emergency. UK police forces give TecSafe handsets to those experiencing domestic abuse. When a person activates it, 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.
WalkSafe+ Pro is a personal safety app, providing peace of mind during commutes, and in other public spaces. The app combines journey-sharing features and a national Safe Space map, plotting safety trained venues across the UK in partnership with Local Authorities and businesses that offer safety facilities. WalkSafe+ also has a suite of tracking and non-tracking features available, which enable trusted friends to follow live journeys. WalkSafe have partnered with Mitie, as part of their commitment to enabling Safer Communities. Read about EIDA Beacon member Mitie's use of the WalkSafe app and Safer Communities here.
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.
Specialist services
Black and minority ethnic groups
Ashiana Network supports Black and minority ethnic women and girls in London. Call: 0208 539 0427.
BAWSO run a 24-hour helpline for Black, minority ethnic and migrant victim-survivors of domestic abuse, violence and exploitation in Wales. Call: 0800 731 8147.
Chayn support survivors of abuse across borders and are trauma-informed, intersectional, multi-lingual and feminist. Chayn have an extensive resource section and connections with local services online.
Hersana support Black femmes affected by or at risk of experiencing gender-based violence across England and Wales. Call: 0333 016 9610.
Imkaan are a UK based women's organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minority women across the UK. Contact through their website.
Jewish Women's Aid run a helpline for Jewish women and girls affected by domestic abuse across the UK, available Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 9.30pm. Call: 0808 801 0500.
LAWRS - A helpline for Latin American migrant women across the UK, available Monday to Friday 11am to 1pm. Call: 0808 145 4909.
The Lioness Circle - a safe space in Croydon, London, 'by and for' women and girls who are born of the African and Caribbean heritage and recovering from domestic abuse or sexual violence.
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 Black and minority ethnic communities through a deep understanding and expertise in working with marginalised and 'hidden' communities. Based in London.
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. Based in Southall.
Child to parent abuse
Parental Education Growth Support (PEGS) are a charity that support parents, carers and guardians who are experiencing child to parent abuse (including those with adult offspring).
Children and babies
The For Baby's Sake Trust provide parents with trauma-informed, therapeutic support to break the cycle of domestic abuse and give their baby the best start in life. Their programme For Baby's Sake is an evidence-based response to domestic abuse, trauma, and what babies need from conception to age two. For Baby’s Sake empowers expectant parents to make changes that last, for themselves and their baby. They currently deliver For Baby's Sake in London, the East of England, Blackpool and the North East of England.
Protecting Every Future is a free guide developed by EIDA Ambassador, Sharon Livermore MBE, in partnership with Domestic Abuse Alliance and The HR Dept. It aims to raise awareness and provide support resources for employees who may be experiencing domestic abuse while pregnant, during maternity leave or on their return to work. Available online.
Disability support
Sign Health offer support to deaf people in England affected by domestic abuse. Text: 07800 003 421.
Stay Safe East is run by and for disabled people and supports victim-survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, harassment and other forms of abuse in London. Tel/SMS: 07865 340 122.
Divorce coaching
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.
Arabella Paul (The Divorce Survival Coach) works with corporates to create safer, more supportive workplaces by providing one-on-one coaching for employees navigating divorce or separation, particularly in cases involving domestic abuse. She also delivers workshops to help managers recognise the signs of emotional abuse and support affected employees, fostering a culture of awareness, empathy, and resilience. Call: 07876 351822.
Economic abuse
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) produce a range of specialist resources on economic abuse for victim-survivors and the professionals supporting them across the UK.
Employers
All Things Economic Abuse offers advisory and consultancy services to organisations working to address economic abuse.
Hestia's Respond to Abuse Advice line is a free resource for employers. Employers can call to seek advice on how to support employees and colleagues experiencing domestic abuse. Call 0203 879 3695 or email adviceline.EB@hestia.org. Hestia also operate refuges across London and the southeast.
Working Families advise parents and carers of their employment rights in the UK with their free legal advice service, and help employers to create supportive, flexible workplaces through an employer membership, which offers a wealth of tools and tailored guidance, free resources, coaching and consultancy, and a Family Friendly Workplaces certification scheme.
Fatal abuse
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse draw on personal and professional experience of major criminal justice processes like Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews, and other related inquiries and provide emotional, practical and specialist peer support to those left behind after fatal domestic homicide across the UK. Call: 07887 488 464.
Honour Based Abuse
Karma Nirvana are the longest established charity specialising in providing support for people impacted by Honour Based Abuse in the UK. They produce data on Honour Based Abuse, train frontline practitioners and professionals, and campaign for change. Their national helpline is open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. Call: 0800 599 9247.
IKWRO support 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, female genital mutilation (FGM), and domestic abuse. They offer services in Kurdish, Farsi, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Turkish and English across the UK.
Legal assistance
The Domestic Abuse Alliance run an advice line with legal assistance for domestic abuse victim-survivors in the UK, available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Call: 0800 101 7110.
Affordable Justice offer legal services for women. Calls are free and available across the UK. They operate a women’s centre in Hull. Call: 01482 711 003.
The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) specialise in providing free, fast and effective support to victim-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). Available across the UK. Call: 0800 970 2070.
RCJ Advice deliver free legal advice to people with cases in the civil and family courts in England and Wales. Call: 0203 745 7707.
FLOWS are a legal advice service in England offering free legal advice and support to front-line workers working with women responding to domestic abuse, and they can advise women themselves. 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 the supporting statement necessary to apply for a protective order in England and Wales.
Rights of Women aim to provide women in England and Wales 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 victim-survivors of violence or abuse to claim compensation, through the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme. Call: 0151 294 6307. Email: info@alisonmccormacksolicitors.co.uk
Older people
Age UK have information on their website to support older people affected by domestic abuse, including advice lines. They operate across the UK.
Hourglass are a UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse, harm and exploitation of older people. Hourglass provide end-to-end support including specialist older people’s IDVA and ISVA services. Employers can signpost their employees aged 60 and above to Hourglass which is open 24 hours a day. Freephone Helpline: 0808 808 8141. Text service: 07860 052906. Email: helpline@wearehourglass.org
Perpetrators
Respect run a confidential helpline for perpetrators of domestic abuse. Call: 0808 802 4040. They operate across the UK.
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. They operate across the UK.
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 in London. 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 people 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 online 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.
Sexual abuse
Rape Crisis England and Wales operate a 24/7 helpline and online support for anyone affected by rape and sexual violence. Call: 0808 500 2222. Operates in England and Wales.
The Revenge Porn Helpline run an advice and support line, available Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. Call: 0345 600 0459. They operate across the UK.
Stalking and harassment
The Suzy Lampugh Trust run the National Stalking Helpline, available 9.30am - 4pm weekdays except Wednesdays. Call 0808 802 0300. They operate across the UK.
Tech safety
Women’s Aid offer guidance on how to cover your tracks online.
Refuge offer 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 have information on digital and online safety.
