Domestic Abuse

Psychological abuse

Includes name-calling, threats and manipulation, blaming you for the abuse or ‘gas-lighting’ you.

Economic abuse

Controlling your access to money or resources. Might take your wages, stop you working, or put you in debt. Sexual abuse Doesn’t have to be physical. Might manipulate or coerce you into doing things you don’t want to do. Coercive control When an abuser uses a pattern of behaviour over time to exert power and control. It is a criminal offence.

Physical abuse

Not only hitting. Might restrain you or throw objects, pinch or shove you and claim it’s a ‘joke’.

Tech abuse

Might send abusive texts, demand access to your devices, track you with spyware, or share images of you online.

Pregnancy can trigger an increase in the frequency and intensity of abuse and many women will experience it for the first time during their pregnancy.We know that people suffering abuse often want help but feel they cannot speak out; this is why all health care staff have been trained to ask you about your relationship and if you feel safe at home.

Please speak to your midwife if you need any support or call one of the help line numbers in the box below. They will not make decisions for you but can offer guidance and information so that you can move forward together and keep yourself safe. 

You are not alone. Please look below for both local and national help.  

Living in a home where domestic abuse happens can have a serious impact on a child or young person's mental and physical wellbeing. These effects can last into adulthood. Neither you or them is at fault but It is important to seek help to prevent this from happening.  

Childline can be contacted 24/7. Calls to 0800 1111 are free and confidential. Children can also contact Childline online. Childline has information and advice for children and young people about domestic abuse regardless if happening now or in the past, including why it happens and what they can do. 

Childline’s Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART™) is a therapeutic service for mothers and children who have experienced domestic abuse. 

Find out more about all the services for children, including how to get in touch with ones in your area. 

The Hide Out, created by Women's Aid, is a space to help children and young people understand abuse. It also helps them learn how to take positive action. 

Buckinghamshire 

Wycombe Women’s Aid 

01494 432000 

Providing emotional and practical support & information for those affected by domestic abuse in and around High Wycombe. 

Aylesbury Women’s Aid 

01296 436827 

Providing emotional and practical support & information for those affected by domestic abuse in and around Aylesbury Vale. 

MK-Act 

0844 3754307 

Providing emotional and practical support & information for those affected by domestic abuse in and around Milton Keynes. 

Berkshire 

West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Service 

0800 731 0055 

Providing emotional and practical support & information for those affected by domestic abuse in and around West Berkshire.

Berkshire Women’s Aid (Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham)

0118 950 4003

Providing emotional and practical support & information for those affected by domestic abuse in and around Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham.

The DASH Charity (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) (Windsor, Maidenhead and Beaconsfield)

0800 0852654

Providing emotional and practical support & information for those affected by domestic abuse in and around Windsor, Maidenhead and Beaconsfield.

Hestia

01753 477352

Providing emotional and practical support & information for those affected by domestic abuse in and around Slough.

Hampshire:

Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service (provided by Stop Domestic Abuse and the Hampton Trust)

0330 0165 112

A confidential help service for women, men, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse in Hampshire.

Hampton Trust

02380 009898

Delivering domestic violence perpetrator programmes and a range of community-based interventions for families experiencing domestic abuse.

Surrey: 

Surrey Against Domestic Abuse

01483 776822

Provides information on how to get help and keep yourself and your children safe.

East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service

01737 771350

East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services is an independent charity providing help and advice in the borough of Reigate & Banstead and the districts of  Mole Valley and Tandridge.

North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service

01932 260690

Managed by Citizens Advice Elmbridge (West), this service provides free, confidential advice to anyone aged 16 or over living in the boroughs of Epsom & Ewell, Elmbridge or Spelthorne.

South West Surrey Outreach helpline

01483 898884

Gives advice to those affected by domestic abuse living in Guildford and Waverley, including Godalming, Farnham and Merrow.

Your Sanctuary

01483 776822

The Your Sanctuary domestic abuse helpline runs from 9am till 9pm, 7 days a week, offering listening support, information and signposting. An online chat service is available via their website.

Your Sanctuary also runs two safe houses for women and children fleeing from domestic abuse, and a specialist male support service available to men across Surrey.

If you're an adult experiencing domestic abuse, there are organisations that can help.

Relate
0300 003 0396
You can talk to Relate about your relationship, including issues around domestic abuse.

National Domestic Violence Helpline
0808 2000 247
A 24 hour free helpline run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge.

Home (nationaldahelpline.org.uk)

I need help - information and support on domestic abuse (womensaid.org.uk)

Refuge

Safe and emergency accommodation, including culturally-specific services for women from minority ethnic communities and cultures.

Domestic Violence Assist
Specialises in assistance to obtain emergency injunctions from being further abused.
Phone: 0800 195 8699

National Centre for Domestic Violence
Specialises in assistance to get emergency injunctions from being further abused.
Phone: 0800 970 2070

Men's Advice Line
0808 801 0327
Advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
0800 999 5428
Emotional and practical support for LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse.

Ask for ANI at your local pharmacy.

The Ask for ANI scheme allows those at risk or suffering from abuse to discreetly signal that they need help and access support. By asking for ANI, a trained pharmacy worker will offer a private space where they can understand if the victim needs to speak to the police or would like help to access support services such as a national or local domestic abuse helplines.

If you are, or think you might be, domestically abusing a member of your family, there's help available.

You can call childline for information and advice on 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk or fill in the online form.

Respect offers information, advice and support to perpetrators of abuse. 

• Call Respect – People living in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can call for free on 0808 802 4040 (Monday – Friday 9am-5pm).
• Email Respect – You can email Respect on info@respectphoneline.org.uk. They aim to reply to emails within two working days.
• Chat online – Respect have a webchat service available on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-4pm.