Abuse Support Directory
A resource list for readers in Northern Ireland, the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
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Immediate Help
🚨 In danger? Call 999 (UK/NI) or 112 (ROI & EU).
If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted on a mobile (the Silent Solution) to connect to police.
From a landline in the UK, staying silent can still work – don’t hang up.
If you’re in Northern Ireland and need urgent crisis counselling, call Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 (24/7).
Samaritans (UK & ROI): 116 123 (24/7). Emotional support for anyone in distress, suicidal, or overwhelmed.
Note: These are for immediate safety. Services listed in other sections provide longer-term help and advocacy.
Northern Ireland
Domestic & Sexual Abuse Helpline (Nexus): 0808 802 1414
24/7, free, confidential. For women, men, families, friends, and professionals.Women’s Aid Federation NI
Provides refuge, outreach, and support. Find your local group here.Victim Support NI
Support with the criminal justice process, emotional help, and practical advice. Belfast: 028 9024 3133 | Foyle: 028 7137 0086.Housing Rights NI: 028 9024 5640
For housing and homelessness advice.Lifeline: 0808 808 8000
Crisis helpline offering counselling and immediate support. Open 24/7.Children’s Law Centre (NI): childrenslawcentre.org.uk. Free legal advice for young people.
Note: NI services often work together – Women’s Aid and the Helpline can connect you to housing, legal, and counselling support in your area.
UK-wide
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (England, run by Refuge): 0808 2000 247 (24/7). Live chat is also available.
Scottish Domestic Abuse & Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234. Text/WhatsApp: 07401 288 595.
Wales – Live Fear Free Helpline: 0808 80 10 800. Text: 07860 077333. Covers domestic abuse, sexual violence, and harmful practices.
Victim Support (England & Wales): 0808 168 9111 (24/7). 24/7 support with crime and justice system navigation, as well as advocacy.
Women’s Aid (England): info, online chat, and a directory of local services.
CAFCASS (England & Wales): cafcass.gov.uk. Supports children in family law/domestic abuse cases.
SSAFA (UK armed forces charity): ssafa.org.uk. Support for military families.
Veterans’ Gateway (UK): veteransgateway.org.uk.
Note: Even if you are not ready to leave, these helplines can advise on options, safety planning, and emotional support.
Republic of Ireland
Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline: 1800 341 900 (24/7). Online chat is also available—24/7 confidential support for women experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
Men’s Aid Ireland: 01 554 3811 (Mon–Fri). Support for men and their families experiencing abuse.
Safe Ireland: umbrella group with a map of local refuges and services.
Threshold: 1800 454 454 (housing/tenancy advice). National housing advice line – beneficial for survivors at risk of homelessness.
Tusla – Child & Family Agency: tusla.ie. State agency with responsibility for child protection and domestic abuse referrals.
Pavee Point (Traveller & Roma support): paveepoint.ie. Advocacy and domestic violence support.
HSE Safeguarding Ireland (elder abuse helpline): 1850 24 1850.
Note: ROI has strong regional support networks – Women’s Aid or Safe Ireland are good starting points to find a local refuge or outreach worker.
Sexual Violence Services
Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 500 2222 (24/7). Offers immediate listening, information, and links to local rape crisis centres for counselling and advocacy. Website: rapecrisis.org.uk.
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI): umbrella body for Irish rape crisis centres. rcni.ie has a map of services nationwide.
Nexus NI: nexusni.org | 028 9032 6803 – based in Northern Ireland, offering counselling and support for anyone impacted by sexual trauma, regardless of age or gender.
Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs, UK): Specialist medical and forensic support after sexual violence. Nhs.uk service finder.
Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs, ROI): sexualassaulttreatment.ie. 24/7 specialist medical care and forensic exam services in Ireland.
RAINN (USA): Although based in the United States, their online information hub, rainn.org, is widely used worldwide for education and survivor resources.
Note: Sexual violence services are often separate from domestic abuse services, but survivors can access both. They provide trauma-specific counselling, accompaniment to forensic exams, and advocacy in court processes.
Children & Families
Childline (UK): 0800 1111. Free, confidential, open 24/7 for children and young people under 19. Offers phone, online chat, and email counselling.
ISPCC Childline (Ireland): 1800 66 66 66 | childline.ie. Provides phone and online chat support to children and teenagers across ROI.
NSPCC Helpline (UK): 0808 800 5000. For adults who are worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing.
Barnardo’s (UK & NI): Runs programmes specifically for children and young people affected by domestic abuse, including support for emotional wellbeing, education, and recovery.
Legal recognition: In Northern Ireland and the wider UK, children are now legally recognised as victims in their own right if they see, hear, or otherwise experience domestic abuse.
Note: Supporting children may mean safety planning for the whole family. Many services can advise on explaining abuse to children, managing safe contact with an abusive parent, and supporting children’s recovery.
Specialist & Cultural Supports
LGBTQ+ Survivors – Galop (UK): 0800 999 5428. Provides support for LGBTQ+ people experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, or hate crime. Online chat available.
Men (UK):
Men’s Advice Line (Respect): 0808 801 0327 – advice and emotional support.
ManKind Initiative: 01823 334244 – confidential helpline for male survivors.
Disabled/Deaf Survivors:
SignHealth: text 07800 003421 – specialist service for Deaf people.
Stay Safe East: advocacy service for disabled survivors (London-based but with national resources).
Older People – Hourglass: 0808 808 8141 – national charity addressing elder abuse across the UK.
Stalking & Harassment:
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300.
Paladin: advocacy service for high-risk stalking cases.
Image-Based Abuse: Revenge Porn Helpline – helps remove intimate images shared without consent.
Faith & Cultural Supports:
Muslim Women’s Network UK: mwnuk.co.uk.
Jewish Women’s Aid: 0808 801 0500 | jwa.org.uk.
Sikh Women’s Aid: community-led service supporting Sikh and South Asian women.
Coercive Control: Recognised as a criminal offence in NI, UK, and ROI. Women’s Aid’s definitions explain how coercive control works.
Tech Abuse & Online Safety:
Refuge Tech Safety – Step-by-Step Guides for Phones, Online Accounts, and Spyware.
The Cyber Helpline – support for cyberstalking and tech-based abuse.
Pets & Safety:
Dogs Trust Freedom Project – fostering for dogs when leaving abuse.
Cats Protection Paws Protect – fostering for cats in abusive situations.
Forced Marriage & Honour-based Abuse:
UK Forced Marriage Unit (FCDO/Home Office): 020 7008 0151 (or +44 20 7008 0151 from abroad).
Karma Nirvana: 0800 5999 247 – national helpline for honour-based abuse/forced marriage.
Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking:
Modern Slavery Helpline (UK): 08000 121 700.
National Ugly Mugs (UK & ROI): reporting/support for sex workers.
Note: Specialist supports matter — not every survivor feels safe approaching a mainstream service, and cultural or identity-based organisations can provide understanding and advocacy tailored to lived experience.
Housing, Money & Legal Help
Economic Abuse:
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA): 0808 196 8845 – financial support line, guidance on banking, debt, and benefits.
MoneyHelper (UK gov): practical guides on managing money and leaving abusive financial situations.
Housing:
Shelter (England, Scotland, Wales): housing rights and emergency accommodation advice.
Housing Executive (NI): 03448 920 900 – duty to provide emergency accommodation.
Threshold (ROI): 1800 454 454 – tenancy and housing advice.
Local Councils (UK & ROI): have a duty to house survivors at risk of homelessness, including the provision of emergency accommodation if you are fleeing abuse.
Legal Help:
Rights of Women (England & Wales): legal advice lines covering family, immigration, and criminal law.
Northern Ireland Courts: Non-molestation and Occupation Orders are available; Legal Aid is often waived in domestic abuse cases.
Law Centre NI: provides specialist legal support, especially for migrants and refugees.
ROI Legal Aid Board: Support for Family and Domestic Abuse Cases.
Migrant & Refugee Support:
Migrant Help UK: 0808 8010 503 – advice for migrants, asylum seekers, refugees.
Irish Refugee Council: irishrefugeecouncil.ie.
Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (UK): allows survivors on spousal visas to access benefits/housing while applying for indefinite leave to remain.
Note: Housing and money can be the most significant barriers to leaving. These organisations specialise in helping survivors navigate complex housing systems, benefits, and legal rights.
Healthcare & Emotional Support
GPs & Emergency Departments: safe points of disclosure – can record injuries, provide medical care, and connect you to domestic abuse advocates.
Crisis Mental Health Teams: available in every NI/UK/ROI health trust area; usually accessed via GP or A&E.
Mind (UK): mind.org.uk – resources on abuse and mental health.
Aware NI: aware-ni.org – NI charity supporting people with depression and bipolar disorder.
Pieta (ROI): 1800 247 247 – 24/7 crisis helpline for suicide and self-harm.
Samaritans (UK & ROI): 116 123 – emotional support, free and 24/7.
Respect Phoneline (UK): 0808 802 4040. Confidential service for people worried about their own abusive behaviour and wanting to change.
Trauma Recovery UK: traumarecovery.co.uk. Support for PTSD/CPTSD.
Blue Knot Foundation (global resource): blueknot.org.au. Resources for complex trauma survivors.
Note: Mental health struggles are a common effect of abuse. You are not alone, and reaching out for help with trauma, anxiety, or depression is part of recovery.
Other Key Supports
Safety Planning Tips:
Keep copies of key documents (passports, birth certificates).
Pack a “go-bag” with essentials (medication, bank cards, phone charger).
Agree on a code word with children/friends for emergencies.
Store emergency numbers under neutral names in your phone for easy access.
Workplace & Student Resources:
TUC (UK unions) – Guidance on Workplace Domestic Abuse Policies.
Many employers now offer paid domestic abuse leave.
Universities often have designated safeguarding officers and referral routes through the student union.
Addiction & Substance Use:
Frank (UK): 0300 123 6600 – drug/alcohol advice.
Alcohol Action Ireland: alcoholactionireland.ie.
Important Notes
Abuse is never your fault. 💜
You do not have to report to the police to get help or access support.
Services are there to listen, support, and help you make the choices that are right for you.
If it’s unsafe to keep this page open, close it quickly or open a neutral site (like BBC News).
Closing Note
This directory is here to make support easier to find, whether you are in Northern Ireland, the wider UK, Ireland, or looking further afield.
If you are reading this because you are experiencing abuse:
You are not alone.
You are not to blame.
Support is available, even if it feels challenging to access.
You do not ave to report to the police to access most of these services. Many organisations listed above can talk you through your options, help with practical steps, or listen without judgement. Even if you’re not ready to act right now, reaching out for advice or keeping these numbers saved is a step toward safety.
If you are reading this because you’re worried about someone else, these resources can also guide you. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers — listening, believing, and signposting can make all the difference.
💜 Every name, every story matters. Every survivor deserves to be safe, supported, and heard.
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