Emergency
Emergency Resources
If you have an emergency, call 999
If your unable to speak dial 55 when prompted (Silent Solution)
Your Sanctuary - Surrey based charity supporting survivors of domestic abuse 365 days of the year.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24/7)
RASASC - Rape and sexual abuse support centre. Here for you (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday's 7:30 - 9:30pm)
If you have an emergency, call 999
If you are unable to speak dial 55 when prompted (Silent Solution).
You can also use these helplines and support websites:
Numbers to call if you need support
Sexual/Domestic Violence Support
- Please see details of the ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme run by Women’s Aid for support with transport to refuge Womensaid.org.uk/rail-to-refuge/
- Bright Sky: directory of services and information about spotting the signs of domestic abuse. And see app below.
- Galop UK (National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline) – 0800 999 5428 (Mon-Fri, 10 am to 5 pm, Wed to Thurs, 10 am to 8 pm)
- Paladin: support for victims of stalking. Helpline: 020 3866 4107 (9 am to 3 pm weekdays except for Weds when it is open 10 am to 5 pm)
- Karma Nirvana: support for victims of so-called honour-based abuse or forced marriage. UK Helpline: 0800 5999 247 (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm)
- Southall Black Sisters: offers support via phone (0208 671 9595), email and blogs which can all be accessed here. They offer specialist advice, information, casework, advocacy, counselling and self-help support services in several community languages, especially South Asian languages.
- IKWROÂ culturally specific support, advocacy and counselling for women from the Middle East and Afghanistan. 0207 920 6460 (Mon to Fri 9.30-5.30). Support offered in Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Kurdish/Sorani, Pashto, Turkish and English.
- To access the Womens Aid Survivors Handbook in a variety of languages go to The Survivor’s Handbook: information in different languages (womensaid.org.uk)
Substance/Addiction Support:
- Catalyst Support: 01483 590150 Catalystsupport.org.uk
- Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care: 0808 802 5000 (24 hours every day) Surreydrugcare.org.uk
- DrugFAM: They support families, friends and carers who are struggling to cope with loved one’s addiction to drugs and alcohol – 0300 888 3853
- Druglink: Druglink.co.uk
- UK Smart : They help people to manage their addictive behaviour with substances, or compulsive behaviours such as gambling, sex, eating, shopping and self-harming – Smartrecovery.org.uk
Mental Health
- No Panic Helpline: 0808 808 0545
- The Silver Line: A free helpline for older people. Call them on 0800 470 8090
- Bipolar UK: 0333 323 3880
- Elefriends: A supportive online community for people experiencing a mental health problem: Elefriends.org.uk
- Depression Alliance: 0845 123 2320
- Samaritans: 116 123
- Big White Wall: a 24 hour safe online community to share troubles guided by professionals: Bigwhitewall.com
- OCD UK: 0845 120 3778
- PTSDUK:Â ptsduk.org
- Women’s self-injury helpline: 0808 800 8088
Family Support
- Family lives: They provide support in all aspects of family life. Call on 0808 800 2222
- Gingerbread: They provide advice and information for single parents Gingerbread.org.uk
Housing/Homelessness
- Shelter: Advice and support for housing. Call on 0808 800 4444
- Street Link: Support for homeless people Streetlink.org.uk
Advocacy Services
- Citizen Advice Bureau: 03454040506
- POhWER: Confidential and independent advocacy service to help people make choices about their lives, understand their rights, to be treated as equals and to be heard. Call on 0300 456 2370
Stay Safe Online
To quickly exit
The Exit Site button on the right of the website will quickly hide the page, but you will still need to delete your browser history to fully cover your tracks.
To remove history of websites you’ve visited
If you are worried about someone knowing you have visited this website you can delete your browser history. Find out how to delete your browser history here Computerhope.com/issues/ch000510.htm.
To remove ‘search’ history
Some toolbars (e.g. Google) will keep a record of the words you’ve searched – check the instructions for the toolbar you use in order to ‘clear search history’.
Emails & passwords
Don’t forget to log out of any emails or online accounts, and keep your passwords secure.
Please note, all of the above information may not completely hide your tracks. Some browser types have features that display recently visited sites. The safest way to find information on the internet, would be at a local library, a friend’s house, or at work.
For further information please see these online safety guides:
Womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-domestic-abuse/…
Womensaid.org.uk/cover-your-tracks-online/
Refuge.org.uk/our-work/forms-of-violence-and-abuse/tech-abus…
Free Apps for support around Domestic Abuse
Bright Sky Hestia.org/brightsky
Bright Sky is a free to download mobile app, launched in partnership with the Vodafone Foundation, providing support and information to those concerned that someone they know is experiencing domestic abuse.
The app is also designed to be used by specialist and non-specialist practitioners and other employers, and for anyone looking for information about issues around domestic abuse such as online safety, stalking and harassment and sexual consent.
- Available in 5 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.
- Journal function – designed to log incidents of domestic abuse without any content being saved on the device itself, the app enables users to record incidents using a text, audio, video or photo function.
Hollie Guard – Hollieguard.com/
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 directly to their mobile phones. (Always test first as seem to work differently with different phone providers.)
Stealth Alert – Stealth Mode allows you to raise an alert silently while displaying a default home screen that would look inconspicuous to the attacker, thereby giving the impression that no alarm has been triggered. This feature is useful in certain situations in which raising an alert could increase the risk of harm if the assailant becomes aware that an alert has been triggered.
Deterrent Alert – The idea of Deterrent mode is to make it clear to anyone in your surrounding area that an alert has been raised and to reduce the risk of an attack. The phone will display an obvious red alert screen capturing your GPS location, as well as audio/video footage that may be used to assess danger and collate evidence. With a second shake of the phone it will generate a high-pitched alarm and a flashing light to attract help.