Immediate Help
If you are a woman who has experienced, or is experiencing, domestic violence you can get help, you are not alone, and you do not need to put up with it:
In an emergency dial 999.
For dedicated help and support call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247. This helpline is run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge. See also www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk. The helpline is staffed 24 hours a day by fully trained female helpline support workers and volunteers. All calls are completely confidential. Translation facilities for callers whose first language is not English, and a service for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing are available.
If you are experiencing domestic violence and are worried about Social Services contact regarding your children, contact Family Rights Group - Freephone Helpline 0808 801 0366
Legal Advice
Contact Rights of Women on 020 7251 6777 for family law, 020 7251 8887 for criminal law, 020 7490 7689 for immigration/asylum law and 020 7608 1137 for women in London. For opening times see website.
Legal advice - for women who have been sentenced:
If you feel that your sentence was unjust or relevent matters were not taken in to acount by the Judge or Magistrates and you are :
• in prison for a non-violent offence
• feel you were given inadequate advice about your right to appeal against the sentence or no explanation by your solicitor or barrister as to why an appeal against your sentence would be unsuccessful
You can write to Clementine Harrison, Women's Sentencing Project, 2-10 Princeton Street, Holborn, London WC1R 4BH. Mark the front of the envelope with Rule 39 to ensure that prison staff do not open the letter.
Other Support
Below you will find information about and links to sources of support. Please note that these online resources are provided for information purposes only, and Justice for Women cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites.
Ashiana is a charitable organisation based in London, to help women from the Asian, Turkish and Iranian community get help when they need it. They offer our help support and guidance to women in need.
Asian Women’s Resource Centre leads in the provision of support services for Asian women and children, by working in partnership with funding providers, the public and private sector and the community.
BAWSO is an all-Wales, voluntary organisation, providing specialist holistic services to black and minority ethnic women and children, who are, or are about to be made homeless through a threat of domestic abuse, suffering or fleeing domestic abuse in Wales.
ChildLine is a counselling service for children and young people.
Daughters of Eve is a non profit organisation that works to protect girls and young women who are at risk from female genital mutilation (FGM). By raising awareness about FGM and sign-posting support services we aim to help people who are affected by FGM and ultimately help bring an end to this practice.
Galop support LGBT people who have experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse. They cab also provide advice if you've had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system.
The Hideout – a website created by Women’s Aid to help children and young people to understand domestic violence, and how to take positive action if it's happening to you.
Imkaan is a second tier national charity, specialising in domestic violence – especially Asian Women's Refuges, who support Asian women and children experiencing domestic violence.
The NSPCC (National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children) Helpline – for any adult worried about the safety of a child.
The Offenders’ Families Helpline - Online resources and helpline for advice on all aspects of arrest, going to court and prison. Freephone 0808 808 2003.
PACE is a voluntary organisation working to end the sexual exploitation of children and young people by pimps and traffickers. CROP is dedicated to combating sexual exploitation. It supports affected parents (especially through its Parent Support Unit), and presses for multi-agency intervention and the effective use of legislation to target pimps.
PACT - A national charity which supports people affected by imprisonment. We provide practical and emotional support to prisoners' children and families, and to prisoners themselves.
Rape Crisis – England and Wales provides co-ordination for the national network of Rape Crisis Centres across England and Wales. Rape Crisis Centres provide a range of specialist services for women and girls that have been raped or experienced another form of sexual violence – whether as adults or as children.
Refuge offers a range of services which gives women and children experiencing domestic violence access to professional support whatever their situation.
Scottish Women's Aid is the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. They play a vital role campaigning and lobbying for effective responses to domestic abuse.
Southall Black Sisters is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1979 to meet the needs of Black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women. They aim to highlight and challenge violence against women; empower them to gain more control over their lives; live without fear of violence; and assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom.
Surviving Economic Abuse is a UK charity raising awareness of economic abuse and committed to building the capacity of those who come into contact with victims and survivors of economic abuse to respond.
Welsh Women’s Aid (WWA) was founded in 1978 to campaign and lobby for improvements in public policy and government legislation in relation to women and children experiencing domestic abuse in Wales. WWA is the national umbrella organisation representing local Women's Aid Groups situated throughout Wales.
Women’s Aid is the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. We support a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK.
Women’s Aid Federation of Northern Ireland is the lead voluntary organisation challenging domestic violence in Northern Ireland. They strive to create a safe and supportive society for women, children and young people affected by domestic violence.
Women in Prison supports and campaigns for women offenders and ex-offenders. We assist women with advice on housing, education, mental health, legal rights, work, benefits, debt, domestic violence, and more.
The Women's Project at Asylum Aid aims to enable women seeking asylum in the UK to obtain protection and security, to maintain their dignity and to be treated with respect during the asylum process.