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Guide to getting help and support for abuse
Taking the first step in seeking help for abuse can feel difficult. Especially if you've tried to talk to friends, family or professionals and haven't had a helpful response.
This page lists organisations and services that may be able to offer you support for abuse. Help is available whether you’re experiencing abuse now, or you have done in the past.
Some people find counselling helpful in coping with abuse. For more information see our pages on therapy and counselling.
Our pages on trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-esteem might also be helpful.
Hub of Hope
hubofhope.co.uk
UK-wide mental health service database. Lets you search for local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support. You can filter results to find specific kinds of support.
Samaritans
116 123 (freephone)
[email protected] (Email responses may take several days. This service will close from 26 April 2026.)
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm to 11pm every day).
Victim Support
0808 168 9111
victimsupport.org.uk
Emotional and practical support, including 24/7 live chat service. For people affected by crime and traumatic events in England and Wales.
Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse (HAVOCA)
havoca.org
Information and support for adults who have experienced any type of childhood abuse. Run by survivors.
The Maggie Oliver Foundation
themaggieoliverfoundation.com
Emotional and advocacy support for people who've experienced childhood sexual abuse and exploitation. Across the UK.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)
0808 801 0331
napac.org.uk
[email protected]
Supports adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse. Offers a helpline and email support.
Childline
0800 1111
childline.org.uk
Support for children and young people in the UK. Includes a free helpline and 1-2-1 online chats with counsellors.
Kidscape
0207 823 5430
kidscape.org.uk
[email protected]
Information and advice for parents, carers and young people with concerns about school bullying and abuse.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
0808 800 5000 (for adults concerned about a child)
0800 1111 (18 or under – Childline helpline)
nspcc.org.uk
[email protected]
Support and information for children and anyone worried about a child.
YoungMinds
0808 802 5544 (Parents Helpline)
85258 (text the word 'shout')
youngminds.org.uk
Advice and support for young people for their mental health. Also supports parents and carers through a helpline and chat service.
Hourglass
0808 808 8141
078 6005 2906 (free text line)
wearehourglass.org
[email protected]
Helpline, text line, chat service and information for older people who've experienced abuse. Also supports those concerned about an older person. Such as families, carers or practitioners.
Mencap
mencap.org.uk
[email protected]
Information and advice for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Services include an online community and email helpline.
Domestic abuse and violence support options
These organisations support people who are experiencing, or have experienced, domestic abuse or violence. Find details of:
- Domestic abuse support for all adults
- Domestic abuse support for women
- Domestic abuse support for men
- Domestic abuse support for LGBTQIA+ people
- Domestic abuse support for people from racialised communities
- Support for forced marriage and honour-based violence
Some of these organisations choose to specify that their services are for men, or for women. This may change as they reflect on inclusivity. And it doesn’t always mean they can’t offer support.
If you’re transgender or non-binary, we’ve also listed dedicated LGBTQIA+ support for domestic abuse.
One in Four
0800 121 71 14
oneinfour.org.uk
Advocacy services, counselling and resources. For adults who've experienced trauma, domestic or sexual abuse in childhood.
Safer Places
0330 102 5811
saferplaces.co.uk
[email protected]
24/7 helpline and live chat service for adults who've experienced domestic or sexual abuse, or violence. Offers refuge accommodation services in Essex and Hertfordshire.
Talk listen change
0161 872 1100
talklistenchange.org.uk
[email protected]
Counselling, mediation and domestic abuse services for adults and young people in the north of England.
The Dash Charity
0175 354 9865
thedashcharity.org.uk
Information, helpline, advocacy services and legal support for adults who've experienced domestic abuse. Also runs refuge accommodation in Berkshire for women and children.
Refuge
0808 2000 247 (National Domestic Abuse Helpline)
refuge.org.uk
Support, information and advocacy. For women and children who've experienced domestic violence and abuse. Free, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline, with only female advisors. Also offers live chat and support to find refuge accommodation.
Surviving Economic Abuse
0808 196 8845 (Money Advice Plus Helpline)
survivingeconomicabuse.org
Information and resources for women who’ve experienced economic abuse. Helpline run with Money Advice Plus. Offers advice to women experiencing domestic abuse and in financial difficulty.
Welsh Women's Aid
0808 80 10 800 (Live Fear Free Helpline)
welshwomensaid.org.uk
[email protected]
Information and support for women and children who've experienced domestic abuse. Includes a directory of local services in Wales.
Woman’s Trust
womanstrust.org.uk
A specialist mental health charity for women who've experienced domestic abuse. Provides free remote counselling, workshops, therapy and support groups in some London boroughs.
Women's Aid (England)
womensaid.org.uk
Information and support for women and children who've experienced domestic abuse. Includes live chat service, directory of local services and a forum.
Men's Advice Line
0808 801 0327
mensadviceline.org.uk
Confidential advice and support for men who've experienced domestic violence and abuse by a current or ex-partner, or family member.
Galop
0800 999 5428 (LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline)
galop.org.uk
[email protected]
Helpline, live chat and other support. For LGBT+ adults and young people who've experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse.
Ashiana
0114 255 5740
ashianasheffield.org
Support for women who’ve experienced domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based violence, human trafficking, female genital mutilation and gang violence. For Black, Asian, minoritised ethnic and refugee women in England. Also supports children and young people.
Chayn
Chayn.co
Support for survivors of gender-based violence. Offers trauma-informed practice and resources globally. And a free, anonymous and multi-lingual online service, Bloom, to support survivors.
Roshni
0800 953 9666 (domestic abuse)
0800 953 9777 (forced marriage and honour-based abuse)
roshnibirmingham.org.uk
Multi-lingual information, 24-hour helplines, and chat service for Black and minoritised communities. Support for domestic abuse, honour-based violence, forced marriage, rape or sexual assault.
Southall Black Sisters
0208 571 0800
southallblacksisters.org.uk
Information, advice, advocacy, practical help, counselling and support. For Black and minoritised women who've experienced domestic and sexual violence. Telephone helpline in multiple languages. Operates in the London Borough of Ealing.
Halo Project
0164 268 3045
haloproject.org.uk
Advice and support for victims of forced marriage, honour-based violence and female genital mutilation. Provides a helpline and live chat. Also advises concerned relatives or friends.
IKWRO Women's Rights Organisation
020 7920 6460
ikwro.org.uk
[email protected]
Support for Middle Eastern women at risk of honour-based abuse. Offers advice, advocacy and counselling services. Also provides a safe accommodation refuge.
Karma Nirvana
0800 5999 247
karmanirvana.org.uk
Helpline supporting victims of forced marriage and honour-based abuse.
The Forced Marriage Unit
0207 008 0151
gov.uk/forced-marriage
Government helpline and information. Provides advice and support to actual or potential victims of forced marriage. Also advises professionals dealing with cases.
Suzy Lamplugh Trust
0808 802 0300
www.suzylamplugh.org
Provides the National Stalking Helpline. A free service offering advice for victims of stalking.
Sexual abuse support options
These organisations offer support for people who are experiencing, or have experienced sexual abuse. Find details of:
- Sexual abuse support for all adults
- Sexual abuse support for women
- Sexual abuse support for men
- Sexual abuse support for LGBTQIA+ people
- Support for non-abusive parents and carers of children
- Preventing sexual abuse of children
Some of these organisations choose to specify that their services are for men, or for women. This may change as they reflect on inclusivity. And it doesn’t always mean they can’t offer support.
If you’re transgender or non-binary, we’ve also listed dedicated LGBTQIA+ support for sexual abuse.
One in Four
0800 121 71 14
oneinfour.org.uk
Advocacy services, counselling and resources. For adults who've experienced trauma, domestic or sexual abuse in childhood.
Revenge Porn Helpline
0345 6000 459
revengepornhelpline.org.uk
Free, confidential help and support via phone or chat service. For all adult victims of intimate image abuse living in the UK.
Safeline
0808 800 5005 (helpline for male survivors of sexual abuse)
01926 402 498 (information about counselling for over 16s)
safeline.org.uk
Information and support for young people and adults who've experienced or are at risk of sexual abuse and rape. Offers face-to-face services in Coventry and Warwickshire.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)
0808 801 0331
napac.org.uk
[email protected]
Supports adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse. Offers a helpline and email support.
The Survivors Trust
0808 8010 818 (helpline for people aged 16+)
07860 022 956 (text)
thesurvivorstrust.org
Helpline and lists of local specialist services for survivors of sexual violence. Includes advocates and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs).
Rape Crisis England and Wales
0808 500 2222
rapecrisis.org.uk
Support for women and girls affected by rape, sexual abuse or any form of sexual violence. Provides details of local Rape Crisis centres, a 24/7 helpline, and chat service for people aged 16+.
Mankind
0808 800 1170 (Helpline)
mkcharity.org
Helpline and support for men over 18 who've experienced sexual abuse at any time in their lives. Also supports family members.
Survivors UK
020 3322 1860 (SMS)
074 9181 6064 (WhatsApp)
survivorsuk.org
Support for men, boys and non-binary people who've experienced rape or sexual abuse. Includes text lines and an online chat service.
Galop
0800 999 5428 (LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline)
galop.org.uk
[email protected]
Helpline, live chat and other support. For LGBT+ adults and young people who've experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse.
Acts Fast
0120 279 7217
actsfast.org.uk
In-person and remote support to protective parents or carers of children who've experienced sexual abuse. Offers a trauma programme and counselling services. And provides in-person services in Dorset.
Ivison Trust
ivisontrust.org.uk
Support for parents affected by child sexual exploitation in England and Wales.
We Stand
0800 980 1958
westand.org.uk
[email protected]
Support, advice and information for families affected by child sexual abuse. Access to all services is via the national helpline.
Shore
shorespace.org.uk
Email service and information about sexual behaviour. For young people and parents. Also offers chat service. Check opening hours on website.
Stop It Now
0808 1000 900
stopitnow.org.uk
Confidential freephone helpline, chat service and secure email for people struggling with sexual thoughts and behaviours towards children. Or worried about someone else's behaviour. Or concerned about a child who may have been abused. Multi-lingual support and interpreters available.
A health or social care worker could be a professional such as a:
- Counsellor
- GP
- Healthcare assistant
- Nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Therapist
All health and social care workers must follow certain standards of care. These include keeping professional boundaries and treating people with dignity and respect.
Sometimes this doesn't happen, and people receive poor quality care. In some cases, it might be abuse such as:
- Discriminatory abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Neglect
- Physical abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Verbal abuse
If you've experienced abuse by a health or social care worker and want to report it, your options include:
- Making a complaint – see our pages on complaining about health and social care
- Reporting it to the police
- Taking legal action
To complain about or report abuse, it might help to seek support from an advocate. Contact your local PALS office, Mind Infoline or see our pages on advocacy in mental health for more information.
Mind Infoline
0300 123 3393
[email protected]
Free and confidential information about support and services in your area. Including advocacy support.
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
bacp.co.uk
Professional body for talking therapy and counselling. Provides information and a list of accredited therapists.
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
careinspectorate.wales
Independent regulator for social care in Wales. You can make complaints about care providers and workers.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
03000 616 161
cqc.org.uk
[email protected]
Regulates and inspects health and social care services in England.
Citizens Advice
0800 144 8848 (England Adviceline)
0800 702 2020 (Wales Adviceline)
18001 0800 144 8884 (textphone)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free, confidential information and advice on your rights. Including money, housing, discrimination and other problems. Provides helplines and a chat service on weekdays.
General Medical Council (GMC)
gmc-uk.org
Helps to protect patients and support doctors. Maintains a register of licensed doctors.
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
hcpc-uk.co.uk
Regulates some types of health, psychology and social work professionals.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)
hiw.org.uk
Independent regulator for healthcare in Wales. You can make complaints and give feedback on experiences of care in Wales.
Healthwatch England
healthwatch.co.uk
Information and advice on making a complaint about health and social care services in England.
Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)
PALS service finder
Confidential advice, support and information about experiences of NHS care. Search local services using the PALS services finder. Or ask a doctor or healthcare professional for details.
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
020 7014 9955 (option 3)
psychotherapy.org.uk
Professional body for the accreditation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors in the UK. Provides online register of private psychotherapists. You can also make a complaint.
Published: December 2025
Next review planned: December 2028
References and bibliography available on request.
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