Where to get help for domestic abuse

In an emergency, always phone 999.

• All victims
• Young people
• Male victims
• Forced marriage/honour-based violence
• LGBT community
• Perpetrators

Help and support for victims

Metropolitan Police

If in an immediate danger, always call 999. For non-emergencies, dial 101.

My Decision gives victims of rape or sexual assault information on the choices available if they feel unsure about reporting to the Police.

Domestic abuse support in Richmond

Hestia provides Independent Domestic Abuse Advocacy (IDVA) support and refuge accommodation for victims and their children suffering from domestic abuse. They offer both emotional and practical support to ensure that every service user has an up to date risk assessment and support plan tailored to their individual needs.

To contact an independent IDVA, call 0203 8793544 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

Emergency accommodation referral line - if you are looking for a refuge space, call 0808 169 9975 or email us at refuge.space@hestia.org.uk. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

• Email: richwan.idva@hestia.org
• Referrals: Complete the referral form (MS Word, 53 KB)

These resources can be printed for display or distribution:

• Hestia poster (pdf, 638 KB)
• Hestia leaflet (pdf, 1.1 MB)

Refuge enhanced support service

This service, run by the charity Refuge, supports domestic abuse survivors with additional barriers to accessing support and complex support needs such as mental health, homelessness, substance misuse, disabilities.

• Email: outreachSWLCN@refuge.org.uk

One Stop Shop service in Richmond

Free drop-in service providing legal advice, information, and support to those experiencing domestic abuse.

• Location: Hampton Hill Citizens Advice, 1st Floor, 94-102 High Street, Hampton Hill, TW12 1NY
• Opening times: Every Friday between 10am and 12pm (excluding bank holidays)
• Appointments: No appointment necessary

This resource can be printed for display or distribution:

• Richmond One Stop Shop Card

If you need support outside of the hours of the One Stop Shop and Hestia’s Independent Domestic Abuse Advocacy (IDVA) service, call the freephone 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

National Domestic Violence Helpline

0808 2000 247

This Freephone 24 hour helpline, run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence. The Helpline can give support, help and information over the telephone. All calls are completely confidential. It offers translation facilities for callers whose first language is not English, and a service for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing is available.

Additional support for victims

• Women and Girls Network - Offers free and confidential specialist emotional support for women and girls who have experienced recent or historic sexual violence and abuse.
  Telephone: 0808 801 0660
  Sexual Violence Helpline 0808 801 0770.
• Victim Support offers free services that can help victims of any crime to deal with what they have been through. Services are available to everyone, whether or not the crime has been reported and regardless of when it happened.
  • Telephone: 0808 1689 111

• Ascent Freephone Advice Line - This pan-London collaboration provides specialist counselling and advice services to women and girls affected by domestic/sexual violence. 

  • Telephone: 0808 802 5565
• The Safety First Scheme aims to reduce repeat victimisation by improving home security for victims who have been subjected to violence and abuse (or threats) from people who do not normally live with them
• Domestic Violence Intervention Programme runs weekly support groups for women who have experienced domestic violence
• Rape Crisis South London provides independent support and therapeutic services to female survivors of sexual violence
  • Telephone: 0808 802 9999 (Open daily from 12 to 2.30pm, and from 7 to 9.30pm)
• The Havens are Sexual Assault Referral Centres set up as a joint initiative by the MPS and the NHS to ensure that victims of rape and sexual assault get the help they need
• Hourglass: Support for older people who have experienced, or are at risk of, any kind of harm, abuse or exploitation. Helpline 0808 808 8141 open from 9am to 5pm every Monday to Friday 
• Counselling Directory is a confidential service that encourages those in distress to seek help. The directory contains information on many different types of distress, as well as articles, news, and events
• Relate provide counselling and support services for couples, families and young people
• SignHealth is a specialist service for deaf adults and children who have experienced abuse. The service offers practical and emotional support to deaf people who are experiencing domestic abuse, witnessed domestic abuse and to those who have survived it
• Jewish Women's Aid provides practical and emotional support, therapy services and a confidential free helpline 0808 801 0500 - open 9.30am to 9.30pm Mondays to Thursdays
• Revive Housing Scheme is Homefinder’s latest division, specialising in relocating domestic abuse survivors to permanent social housing in a new and safe environment in a different part of the country. The service will provide an alternative way to find social housing for survivors without the need to compete against other high priority groups. This is a service for existing Housing Association and Council tenants.
• Bright Sky | Hestia is a free to download mobile app, providing support and information to those concerned that someone they know is experiencing domestic abuse
  • Available in five languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish and Welsh
  •  A unique UK-wide directory of specialist domestic abuse support services with contact details
  • Questionnaires to assess the safety of a relationship, plus a section on dispelling myths around domestic and sexual abuse
  • Links to further resources and information on topics around domestic abuse
• Safe Spaces - walk into a TSB bank branch, any Boots UK store, Superdrug Pharmacy, Morrisons Pharmacy, or one of the independent pharmacies and ask to use their Safe Space. Victims can use a private room to make telephone calls, speak to a trained member of staff and access information about available support services
• Hollie Guard - smartphone app that provides enhanced levels of protection. In danger? With a simple shake or tap it activates Hollie Guard, immediately notifying your chosen contacts, pinpointing your location and sending audio and video evidence directly to their mobile phones
• Choice Support - support for people with learning difficulties
• Citizens Advice Richmond - free advice on any issue, including economic hardship and specialist debt advice service
• Rail to Refuge - Women's Aid - free train travel for those fleeing domestic abuse
• EACH Counselling and Support - a part of ASCENT, a pan-London consortium, through which they deliver one to one counselling and group therapy for women and girls experiencing domestic abuse and trauma (age 16+). They accept self-referrals and referrals from services. Call 020 8577 6059 or email infoascent@eachcounselling.org.uk.
• Respeito - domestic abuse support for Portuguese speaking men and women in London. Call 0300 365 2800
• East European Resource Centre - provides information, advice and support to people from Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia)
• Rights of women - free and confidential legal advice and information on issues including domestic violence, child contact, the criminal justice process and immigration and asylum
  

Support for young people

Richmond's Single Point of Access (SPA)

Telephone: 020 8547 5008 (office hours) or 020 8770 5000 (evenings and weekends).

Contact SPA if you are concerned that a child is being abused or affected by domestic abuse.

Abianda

Service that works with young women and girls aged up to 25 affected by criminal exploitation and violence and provides training for the professionals who work with them.

Childline

Telephone: 0800 1111

A free 24-hour counselling service for children and young people.

Children's Centres

Run workshops, programs and groups for women and children affected by domestic abuse.

Off the record

Based in Twickenham, a registered charity providing drop-in counselling, information and sexual health service for young people aged 11–24 who live, work or study in the Borough of Richmond Upon Thames. Phone: 020 8744 1644.

The Purple Elephant Project

Provides therapeutic support for children and their families affected by attachment, developmental trauma or life experiences.

Support for male victims

Men’s Advice Line

Telephone: 080 8801 0327

A free confidential helpline for any man experiencing domestic violence and abuse from a partner, ex-partner or other family member.

Survivors UK

Telephone: 020 3598 3898

Provides information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused.

The Mankind National Initiative Helpline

Telephone: 01823 334244

A confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and male victims of domestic violence across the UK.

Ashraya Project

A specialist pan-London IDVA service supporting male, trans+ and non-conforming survivors of domestic abuse with housing and/or immigration needs. Referrals can be made by email to malevictims@victimsupport.org.uk or by calling 0808 168 9291.

Support for people at risk of forced marriage or so-called 'honour-based' violence

Forced Marriage Unit

0207 008 0151

A public helpline to provide advice and support to victims of forced marriage as well as those who are worried about a friend or relative or professionals dealing with cases.

Karma Nirvana

0800 599 9247

Helps people to escape from forced marriage and honour-based violence.

Asian Women’s Resource Centre

020 8961 6549/ 5701

A specialist women's organisation, providing support to BMER (Black, Minority, Ethnic, Refugee) women and children across London and provides advice and information, counselling, advocacy, outreach and support groups and services.

Southall Black Sisters

Free and confidential helpline, and advocacy services aimed at helping Black and minoritised women live free from all forms of violence and abuse, including those without recourse to public funds.

Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO)

0207 920 6460 (Monday to Friday, form 9:30am to 5:30pm)

Support for Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls who are at risk of honour based violence, forced marriage, child marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence and to promote their rights.

Chinese Information and Advice Centre 

0300 201 1868

Provides a wide range of support for people facing immigration issues, women and children (including victims of domestic violence), asylum seekers and refugees, homeless people, as well as those in need of benefits and welfare advice.

Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women's Centre

Support for Moroccan and Arabic speaking women

Support for the LGBT community

Domestic abuse affects approximately one in four lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in their lifetimes. This may include abuse related to their sexual orientation or gender identity, such as threatening to 'out' someone to their work or family.

Ashraya Project

0808 168 9291 or email malevictims@victimsupport.org.uk

A free, independent and confidential specialist pan-London IDVA service supporting male, trans and non-conforming survivors of domestic abuse with housing and immigration needs.

GALOP

020 7704 2040

Provides advice and support to lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people who have experienced homophobic or transphobic hate crime or violence in the Greater London area, including sexual abuse.

Metro

020 8305 5000

Services available only in certain boroughs

Stonewall Housing

020 7359 5767

Provides free confidential advice on safe housing for LGBT domestic abuse victims in London.

The Gender Trust

015 2789 4838

Supports all those affected by gender identity issues>

Support for perpetrators

DVIP Hammersmith and Waterloo

020 7633 9181

Support for men to learn to change their behaviour and have safer, healthier relationships.

The Respect Phoneline

0808 802 4040

A confidential and anonymous helpline for domestic violence perpetrators looking for help to address their behaviour.