Abuse

About this resource

If you have been abused, or fear you have, it can be hard to take the first step in seeking help – especially if you have tried to talk about the issue to friends, family or professionals and have not had a response that helped you.

This page lists mainly national organisations. Your local telephone directory, Citizens Advice Bureau or the NHS services finder may have more information on local organisations.

You might also want to read our information on abuse by health and social care workers, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-esteem.

All types of abuse

Support for all adults

Samaritans
Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK
Chris, PO Box 90 90
Stirling FK8 2SA
24-hour helpline: 08457 90 90 90
email: jo@samaritans.org
web: samaritans.org
24-hour support for anyone experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.

Victim Support
Victim Supportline: 0845 30 30 900 (Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat and Sun 9am-7pm)
email: supportline@victimsupport.org.uk
web: www.victimsupport.org
Victim Support is a charity that provides support and information to people affected by crime, including rape and sexual abuse, as a victim or a witness. The website provides details of local support branches.

Support for adults abused in childhood

NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood)
infoline: 0800 085 3330
email: support@napac.org.uk
web: napac.org.uk
Support, advice and guidance for adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse – sexual, physical or emotional

TANSAL (The Abuse Network Survivor Aid Links)
web: tansal.50megs.com
Provides information on books, training, UK events and links for survivors of sexual, physical, emotional or mental abuse and neglect during childhood, and those supporting survivors.

Support for children

ChildLine
helpline: 0800 1111 (24 hours)
web: www.childline.org.uk
Confidential telephone counselling service for children about any issue.

Kidscape
tel: 08451 205 204 (anti-bullying helpline for parents)
web: www.kidscape.org.uk
Telephone advice for parents with concerns about school bullying and child sexual abuse. Child protection advice leaflets available on website.

NSPCC
helpline: 0808 800 5000 (24 hours daily)
email: help@nspcc.org.uk
web: www.nspcc.org.uk
For anyone who needs advice, help or information regarding a child's welfare and for those who want to report concerns they have about a child or young person at risk of abuse.

YoungMinds
Parents information service: 0808 802 5544
web: youngminds.org.uk
Information for both parents and young people, including podcasts on the website Produces useful publications, including a leaflets: Sexually abused? (pdf).

Support for older people

Action on Elder Abuse
helpline (UK): 0808 808 8141
email: enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk
web: www.elderabuse.org.uk
Helpline for anyone concerned in any way about the abuse of older people.

Support for people with learning difficulties

Respond
email: admin@respond.org.uk
web: www.respond.org.uk
Respond provides a range of services to people with learning disabilities, including both victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse. It also provides support and training for families, carers and professionals. Mental health professionals can refer people with learning difficulties who have experienced or perpetrated sexual abuse for face to face work.

Mencap
infoline: 0808 808 1111
email: help@mencap.org.uk
web: mencap.org.uk
Information and advice for people with a learning disability, families and carers

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence – support for women

Refuge
helpline: 0808 2000 247 (Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge)
email: info@refuge.org.uk
web: refuge.org.uk

Women's Aid (England)
helpline: 0808 2000 247 (Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge)
email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk The National Domestic Violence Helpline can only offer limited information by email as they don't have the resources to provide on-going support or in-depth information in this way. When you email the Helpline it's very important that you specify when and if it is safe to respond and to which email address.
email: info@womensaid.org.uk
web: www.womensaid.org.uk

Welsh Womens Aid
helpline: 0808 80 10 800
email: via website
web: www.welshwomensaid.org.uk

Domestic violence – support for men

Men's Advice Line
Helpline: 0808 801 0327 (Monday - Friday 10am -1pm and 2pm - 5pm)
email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
web: www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Confidential helpline for all men (whether in heterosexual or same-sex relationships) experiencing domestic violence by a current or ex-partner.

All Wales domestic abuse and sexual violence helpline
Helpline: 0808 80 10 800
email: via website
web: allwaleshelpline.org.uk

Domestic violence – support for black and minority ethnic groups

Ashiana Sheffield
helpline: 0114 255 5740
email: info@ashianasheffield.org.uk
web: www.ashianasheffield.org
Aims to help prevent murder and serious harm to black, Asian, minority ethnic and refugee women in England, Wales and Scotland as a result of domestic abuse and forced marriage and honour-based violence. Also supports children and young people.

Domestic Violence – support for LGBT groups

Broken Rainbow
helpline: 0300 999 5428  Open Monday: 2pm - 8pm, Wednesday: 10am - 5pm,Thursday: 2pm - 8pm
email: help@broken-rainbow.org.uk
web: www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Provides support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experiencing domestic violence.

Domestic violence – help for people who inflict violence

Respect
Respect phoneline: 0808 802 4040 (Open: Monday - Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm)
email: info@respectphoneline.org.uk
web: www.respectphoneline.org.uk
Runs support services and programmes for people who inflict violence in relationships including young men and women. Also runs the men's advice line, as above.

Domestic violence – support for young people

Respect not fear
web: www.respectnotfear.co.uk
Website for young people about domestic violence.

The Hide Out
web: www.thehideout.org.uk/over10
Women's Aid has created this website to help young people understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it's happening to them.

Domestic violence and forced marriage

The Forced Marriage Unit
tel: 020 7008 0151
email: fmu@fco.gov.uk
web: www.gov.uk/forced-marriage 
A joint-initiative between the Foreign Office and the Home Office. It assists actual and potential victims of forced marriage, as well as professionals working in the social, educational and health sectors.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse – support for all

HAVOCA (Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse)
email (support): friend@havoca.org
web: www.havoca.org
Provides information to any adult who is suffering from past childhood abuse. Website includes survivors' forum.

Lifecentre
PO Box 58, Chichester PO19 8UD
adult helpline: 0844 847 7879
under 18s helpline: 0808 802 0808
email: via website
web: www.lifecentre.uk.com
Telephone counselling for survivors of sexual abuse and those supporting survivors. Also offers face-to-face counselling and art therapy groups in West Sussex.

One in four
web: oneinfour.org.uk
Advocacy service, counselling service (available over skype and in several languages) and information for people who have experienced sexual abuse.

TASC - trauma and abuse support centre
email: tasc@tasc-online.org.uk
web: tasc-online.org.uk
UK web-based resource for survivors of the whole spectrum of child sexual abuse and for anyone involved in supporting them, including family, friends, therapists and churches.

The Lantern Project
web: lanternproject.org.uk
Help and support for survivors of sexual abuse. Information library on website, and survivors' online forum.

Sexual abuse – support for women

CIS'ters (Childhood Incest Survivors)
PO Box 119, Eastleigh SO50 92F
tel: 023 8033 8080
email: admin@cisters.org.uk
Provides help and support for adult women who suffered incest as a child. Organises workshops and conferences to raise awareness on the issues surrounding incest, particularly mental distress.

Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
National Freephone helpline: 0808 802 9999 (12 -12.30 pm, 7 - 9.30 pm every day of the year)
email: info@rapecrisis.org.uk
web: www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Lists local organisations throughout England and Wales with contact details, services offered and opening times. Services are available to women who have been sexually abused at any time in their lives.

Sexual abuse – support for men

Mankind
tel: 01273 911 680
email: admin@mankindcounselling.org.uk
web: www.mankindcounselling.org.uk
Provides one-to-one counselling, therapeutic groups and couple counselling to men (age 18+) who have experienced sexual abuse at any time in their lives.

Survivors UK
helpline: 0845 122 1201
email: info@survivorsuk.org
web: www.survivorsuk.org
Provides support for men who have been raped or sexually abused. Helpline takes calls from the whole of the UK. Also provides face-to-face counselling and support groups in the London area.

Sexual abuse – support for non-abusive parents and carers of children who have been sexually  abused

Mosac
helpline: 0800 980 1958
email: enquiries@mosac.org.uk
web: www.mosac.org.uk
Mosac is a voluntary organisation supporting non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused, providing support, advice, information and counselling following the discovery of sexual abuse.

Support to prevent sexual abuse of children

Stop it Now ! 
helpline: 0808 1000 900 (Mon-Thurs 9am - 9pm; Fri 9am - 7pm)
confidential email support line: help@stopitnow.org.uk
web: www.stopitnow.org.uk
Stop it Now! has a confidential freephone helpline for people struggling with sexual thoughts and behaviours towards children. The helpline will also support anyone with a concern, including the parents and carers of children and young people with worrying sexual behaviour, and friends and family worried about the behaviour of another adult.

Considering counselling

The organisations below can help you find a suitably qualified counsellor. You might also want to read our information on talking treatments.

British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
tel: 020 7686 4216
web: baat.org
Provides a list of therapists

British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
tel: 0161 705 4304
web: babcp.com
Can provide details of accredited therapists

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
tel: 01455 883 300
web: itsgoodtotalk.org.uk
For practitioners in your area

UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
tel: 020 7014 9955
web: psychotherapy.org.uk
Has a voluntary register of qualified psychotherapists