Signposting and Support
What support is available through Women’s Aid?
You can reach out to one of our fully trained female support workers through our Live Chat or Email Service. We will never judge you or what you say. We won’t tell you what to do, but we can give you space to explore your options in confidence.
If you need practical support and information, you might find our Survivors’ Handbook helpful, for example how to recognise if a relationship is unhealthy, what happens if you involve the police, and how to prepare to leave if you’re ready.
If you’re looking for information as a teenager or young person, have a look at our Love Respect site which includes a quiz to explore if your relationship might be unhealthy, survivors’ stories, and articles on gaslighting and consent.
We also have a directory where you can find local support near you.
Remember in an emergency situation you should always call 999 for the Police, or use 999 BSL for a British Sign Language interpreter to connect you to emergency services.
Local support services:
- Women’s Aid England Directory of Services
- Welsh Women’s Aid Directory of Services
- Scottish Women’s Aid Directory
- Women’s Aid Northern Ireland Directory
- Hot Peach Pages: abuse information and support agencies internationally
- Lila.help: gender-based violence helplines internationally
Additional support services:
Benefits:
- Citizens Advice Bureau: advice on benefits and contact details for local offices: 0800 144 8444
- Turn2Us: check your benefit entitlement with a Benefits Calculator, search for what grants might be available, and find information and support: 0808 802 2000
Children and young people:
- Love Respect: includes sections on gaslighting, red flags and consent
- NSPCC: free helpline with advice and information on parenting related issues: 0800 800 5000 / help@nspcc.org.uk
- The Mix: free helpline and Live Chat for young people under 25 to support with a variety of experiences, including domestic abuse: 0808 808 4994
Counselling and mental health:
- Bloom: courses written and checked by survivors focused on trauma recovery
- British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy: Therapist Directory with those registered with BACP (this means they must have completed a core practitioner training course in counselling or psychotherapy)
- Counselling Directory: nationwide database of qualified counsellors and therapists
- Domestic abuse and mental health: a guide for survivors
- Mind: InfoLine can provide information and signposting around mental health, where to get help and treatment options: 0300 123 3393; Side by Side is their online community to talk about your mental health
- Samaritans: you can contact Samaritans via phone, email or Live Chat to discuss stress, isolation, depression, thoughts of suicide and more: 116 123
- SupportLine: confidential emotional support by telephone, email and post: 01708 765200 / info@supportline.org.uk
Economic abuse:
- Surviving Economic Abuse: Financial Support Line 0808 1968845
Harassment and stalking:
- National Stalking and Harassment Helpline: 0808 802 0300 / email / Am I being stalked? tool
- Paladin (National stalking advocacy service): 0203 866 4107 / info@paladinservice.co.uk
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust: info@suzylamplugh.org / online resources
“Honour”-based abuse and forced marriage:
- Forced Marriage: A Survivor’s Handbook
- Forced Marriage Unit: +44 (0) 20 7008 0151 / fmu@fcdo.gov.uk
- Karma Nirvana: Honour Based Abuse Helpline 0800 5999 247 / request a call back / support@karmanirvana.org.uk
Housing:
- Citizens Advice Bureau: National Adviceline 0333 305 9375 / info@iasservices.org.uk
- Shelterline: 0808 800 4444 / webchat / online housing advice
Immigration support:
- Asylum Aid: legal aid representation for asylum seekers 0207 7354 9631
- Citizens Advice Bureau: National Adviceline 0800 144 8848
- Immigration Advice Service: legal advice and casework from immigration lawyers: 0333 414 9244
- Migrant Help: 24 hour free asylum helpline 0808 8010 503 / info@migranthelpuk.org
- Praxis: free immigration advice 020 7749 7608
- Rights of Women: EU settlement scheme advice line 020 7118 0267 / immigration and asylum law line 020 7490 7689
Intimate image abuse:
- Revenge Porn Helpline: 0345 6000 459 / help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk / automated chat bot and anonymous reporting form
- Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse: free tool operated by the Revenge Porn Helpline to prevent the sharing of specific intimate images
Legal advice:
- Child Law Advice: free advice and information on child and family law: 0300 330 5480
- Civil Legal Advice: if you’re eligible for legal aid, you might be able to get free and confidential advice from CLA
- DV Assist: support with injunctions: 0800 195 8699 / support@dvassist.org.uk
- Rights of Women: Family Law Advice Line can advise around domestic abuse, divorce, finances, property and child arrangements: 0207 251 6577; Criminal Law Advice Line can advise on criminal law around domestic abuse, harassment, stalking, reporting to the police and the criminal justice system: 020 7251 8887
LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse:
- Galop: 0800 999 5428 / help@galop.org.uk
- Stonewall Housing: free advice for anyone who is LGBTQ+ and needs help with housing: Advice Line 0207 359 5767 / self-referral form
- Switchboard: LGBT+ Helpline 0300 330 0630 / instant messaging
Pet fostering:
- Cats Protection: Paws Protect is a specialist cat-fostering services helping families with cats escape domestic abuse: 0345 260 1280 / pawsprotect@cats.org.uk
- Dogs Trust: Freedom Project is a dog fostering service for anyone fleeing domestic abuse and going into refuge: freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk
- Refuge4Pets: specialist animal fostering across Devon and Cornwall: 0300 4000 121
Rape and sexual violence support:
- Rape Crisis: 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line 0808 500 2222 / online chat
- Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) provide medical and practical support for those who have recently experienced rape or sexual assault
- Find your local Rape Crisis centre – England and Wales
- Rape Crisis Scotland – Local centres
- Rape Crisis Northern Ireland
- Bloom: courses written and checked by survivors focused on healing from sexual trauma
- The Survivors Trust: helpline 0808 801 0818 / live chat
Specialist ‘by and for’ support for Black and minoritised women:
- Imkaan’s Directory of Services
- Latin American Women’s Right’s Service – Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0771 928 1714 (Monday to Thursday 10 AM – 1 PM)/ 0759 597 0580 (Monday to Friday 10 AM -1 PM) / referrals@lawrs.org.uk
- Southall Black Sisters Helpline: A national helpline for Black and minoritised women and migrant women, including women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF): 0208 571 9595
Specialist support for Deaf and disabled survivors:
- Respond: Support for people with learning disabilities and/or autism who have experienced trauma and abuse – 020 7383 0700 /admin@respond.org.uk
- Sign Health: call 020 3947 2601 / text/WhatsApp/Facetime 07970 350366 / da@signhealth.org.uk
- Stay Safe East: Supports Deaf and disabled people experiencing domestic abuse and hate crime (London only) enquiries@staysafe-east.org.uk
Specialist support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller women experiencing domestic abuse:
Support for men experiencing domestic abuse:
Support for domestic abuse perpetrators:
- Respect Phoneline: 0808 8024040 / info@respectphoneline.org.uk