[Sannah]

Hello, there is a member here from the UK who is in a very bad situation. She is being sexually and physically abused by several men and she needs to escape. Are there safe houses for domestic violence victims in the UK? If she goes to the police will she be supported or thrown back and in more danger?

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/..._that_can_help

[Sannah]

Thank you Byz!

[Melbadaze]

sannah, If she goes to the Police she will be supported.

[Sannah]

Thank you Melba! Could she go to a domestic violence shelter if it isn't her partner? Also I was mistaken, it is sexual violence not physical. If she goes to the police will they arrest her step dad and the others? Because if they don't, where will she go that is safe?

[lynn P.]

If she's a minor - she should call the U.K. emergency number and also tell her school principal and teacher. If she's underage, I don't think a shelter can legally take her in unless the police order this to happen but they would call the appropriate angencies for her hopefully.

[Sannah]

She told me she is in college. I heard that you can be 16 and in college in the UK. I just asked her if she is a minor or an adult and I'm waiting for the answer.

[phoenix7]

depends what shes studying and what type of college it is - yuo didnt say where she is from - so here are all the numbers i know of

National Helpline Number 24/7 0808 2000247 UK domestic violence freephone so no money necessary

Women's Aid National Domestic Violence Helpline
0345 023 468 Nationwide, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, also weekends from July 1999. Advice and telephone support provided by highly trained staff and volunteers backed up by a wide range of leaflets and other resourcesAccord Catholic Mediation Counselling Services
028 9023 3002Action Against Abuse of Women and Girls
01243 785948Careline
0181 514 1177Childline
0800 1111Chinese Information and Advice Centre (CIAC)
020 7692 3697 The Chinese Women Domestic Violence Project at the Chinese Information & Advice Centre (CIAC) in Central London is developing its Outreach Project to support Chinese sufferers of DV. Email: teng@ciac.co.uk Christian Family Concern
020 8688 0251 Counselling DirectoryThe purpose of the site is ultimately to provide the UK with a huge counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is a free, confidential service that will hopefully encourage those in distress to seek help. The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders (types of distress section) and provides some useful statistics. Every counsellor on the site who has submitted their profile has either sent a copy of their qualifications and insurance cover to us, or is registered with a professional body online with recognised codes of ethics and practice, this way we can be assured of their professionalism.Divorce, Mediation & Counselling Services
020 7730 2422Everyman Project
020 7737 6747Counselling, support and advice to men who are violent or concerned about their violence, and anyone affected by that violence.Families Anonymous
0800 735 0671Family Service Units
020 7428 5405Freecall Message Home
0500 700740Kiran - Asian Women's Aid
020 8558 1986Advice, support, refuge for Asian women, and women from other cultures e.g. Turkey, Iran, Morocco, Malaysia etc. man2man
0208 698 9649Abuse Help Line for male victims only, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Emergencies only after 10 pm.Men's Advice Line and Enquiries
020 8 644 9914 Information, support and advice to men experiencing domestic violence. Open from 9am to 10pm, Monday and Wednesday (answerphone at other times). Local projects for men are available in some areas.Men's Aid0871 223 9986Providing support and advice for men experiencing domestic violence. National Council for One Parent Families
0800 018 5026
020 7 428 5400Both numbers operate Mon-Fri 9.15 to 5.15.
Runs an information service for lone parents, other organizations, local authorities and the media
National Domestic Violence Helpline
08457 023468NSPCC
0800 800500Free, confidential service for anyone concerned about children at risk offers counseling, information and advice. Panahghar
01203 228952 Help for Asian women experiencing Domestic ViolenceThe Pink Practice
07005 968 111A counselling and psychotherapy practice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Leeds and London. Lines open Mon-Thur 9am-7pm.Rape/Indecent Assault Crisis Counselling
0800 735 0567Refuge's 24-hour National Crisis Line
0990 995 443 National crisis line, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year which provides advice and support to those experiencing domestic violence and refers women and children on to the 250 refuges nationwide.Relate
01788 573241
0870 6012121 112 local Relate centres provide couple counselling for those with relationship problems, and psychosexual therapy, and relationship and family education. Samaritans
08457 909090 Shelterline
0808 800 4444 Emergency access to refuge services. Survivors (Swindon)
0845 430 9371Telephone helpline for adult (17+) male survivors of child sexual abuse and adult rape. Answerphone messages are returned as soon as possible.The Muslim Women's Helpline
0181 9048193
0181 9086715 UK Insolvency Helpline
0800 074 6918Free & confidential advice on finance and debts. Monday to Saturday 9am - 9pm (Sundays 9.30am - 1pm & 24 hour answerphone)Women with Learning Disabilities
0181 522 0675Womens Refuge
0845 702 3468Victim Supportline
0845 30 30 900 Nationwide lo-call service, 9am-9pm Mon-Fri, 9am-7pm weekends and bank holidays from 9am-5pm; Provides information and support to victims of all reported and unreported crime, including sexual crimes, racial harassment and domestic violenceVictim Support's Male Helpline
0800 328 3623Freephone number for men, 12 noon to 2 pm, Mon to Fri

Regional Helpline Numbers

Birmingham

Birmingham Relate
0121 643 1638Rape and Sexual Violence Project
PO Box 9558
Birmingham
B4 7QE
0121 233 3818A charity supporting female and male survivors of rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse: offering information, telephone support and face to face counselling (7 days per week). Both male and female counsellors available.Bristol

Bristol Crisis Centre
0117 925 1119A national support phoneline for women in crisis. It is a late night telephone helpline, the available hours being 9pm-12.30am, Friday and Saturday.Bristol Family Mediation Services
0117 929 2002Bristol Relate
0117 942 8444 Sexual Abuse Centre
0117 935 1707 Bristol Womankind
0117 922 5236Cheltenham

Cheltenham Family Welfare Association
01242 522180Cornwall

Cornwall Single Parent Support
01726 65417Durham

Durham Diocesan Family Welfare Council
0191 386 3719 East Anglia

SHE Helpline (East Anglia, Kent & East London) 01702 300006E.A.S.E
East Anglian Survivors Enterprise

Freephone
0800 731 4402
A confidential domestic violence survivors support group for women, based in East Anglia, run by fellow survivors. Groups meet in Kings Lynn, Yarmouth and Norwich. Email ease_2004@hotmail.com
EssexSouth Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC) 01375 381322Provides specialist, holistic, women-centred support, advocacy and counselling to women who have experienced, or are experiencing, sexual violenceKentSHE Helpline (East Anglia, Kent & East London) 01702 300006LancashireOldham Family Crisis Group0161 628 4991Provides refuge, move-on accommodation, and a residential property for South Asian women with Mental Health needs. 24 hour helpline number.LeicestershireJuniper Lodge Sexual Assault Response Centre0116 270 6990Based on the St Mary’s model, ManchesterLondonSHE Helpline (East Anglia, Kent & East London) 01702 300006Southall Black Sisters0181 571 9595Provides a comprehensive and holistic service to Asian and African-Caribbean women. It provides both crisis intervention and long-term casework. Its resource centre provides information, advice, advocacy, counselling and support. Services are provided to women who have experienced domestic violence, forced marriages, abductions (children and young women), and conflict in the family and community, stranger and acquaintance rapes, and sexual harassment.Freedom Project, PO Box 50208,
London,

EC1V 7XP0800 298 9199

The Freedom Project is as pet fostering scheme for women going into refuges or temporary accommodation, providing temporarily foster homes for dogs.

ManchesterSt Mary’s Centre
St Mary’s Hospital,
Hathersage Road,
Manchester
M13 0JH
0161 276 6515 This Centre accepts self-referrals, has 24-hour telephone access, employs crisis/advocacy workers and counsellors and is embedded in the NHS infrastructure. St Mary’s provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to survivors of rape or sexual assault. Survivors are provided with information on relevant services, and with support through the court process where required. Newcastle

Reach Project
Rhonda Cross Centre,
18 Jesmond Road, Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4PQ
0191 212 1551Newham Asian Women’s Project 0181 472 0528Adopts a holistic approach to support services for women who have experienced domestic violence. As well as advice and support they offer employment training to help women rebuild their livesNottinghamNottingham Women’s Aid Advice Centre0115 947 6490Nottingham Women’s Centre 0115 941 1475Provides a range of women’s community initiatives and self-help projects, as well as a specialist helpline, outreach and advice services for women experiencing domestic violence and rape. OxfordshireOxfordshire Mind01856 251152Provide an evening helpline called the Crisis Line to people experiencing distress. The line operates every night from 7.00 p.m. to 1.00 a.m. every night of the year. The line is staffed by trained volunteers who listen, talk through problems, offer practical suggestions, give information and help to contact other services.PortsmouthRape Crisis 02392 669516 SheffieldAshiana,
PO BOX 367,
Sheffield,
S1 1HX 0114 2555740Provide safe accommodation for Asian women and children fleeing from domestic abuse. Also provide outreach service for Asian women who live in Sheffield. Sheaf Domestic Violence Project 0114 249 8881
0114 249 8882Works directly with women, children and Men who have been or still are suffering from domestic violence. Offers face to face visits, an escort service to court / hospital / etcTayside Couple Counselling 01382 640123 Stoke-on-Trent SAVANA
Unit 27,
The Dudson Centre,
Hope Street,
Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 5DD
01782 221000A counselling and support service for women and girls who have been affected by rape, sexual and domestic violence whether recently or in the past. The counselling service is free, and is provided by women for women and girls. This service also includes anyone who is indirectly affected by sexual violence.
Also runs free confidence building course for women and provides training for workers or interested parties in Responing to Disclosure, and Honour Related Violence. WarringtonARC01925 244281A specialist, non-gendered service offering a range of information and advice, emotional support, counselling and resources to anyone affected by the issue of Domestic Violence - women, men, young people and family members.West YorkshireSTAR (Surviving Trauma After Rape)01924 292 361WiltshireRape Support 0808 800 1144 Winchester Rape Crisis Helpline 01962 848024 Back to Top

Wales

Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline
PO Box 82
Caernarfon
LL54 6ZH0808 80 10 800The Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline is the national free support and information service for women, children and men in Wales who are experiencing or who have experienced abuse at the hands of someone close to them. Freephone 24 hours. Welsh and English spoken, access to interpreters for other languages. BT Type Talk Service.Blaenau Gwent Domestic Abuse Services01495 304477 A voluntary organisation that provides a free and confidential information and support service to those affected by domestic abuse in Blaenau Gwent. Open Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.30 am and 4.30 pmWomen's Aid Monmouthshire 01873 859011 24 hour helpline available plus a lot more support. Check out their website for more info by clicking hereThe Buster Foundation
07722 361825Provides emergency, temporary foster homes for the pets of the women and children needing to go into a refuge or escape a violent home. Email: thebusterfoundation@hotmail.co.ukBack to Top
Scotland

Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline

0800 027 1234

Lines open 10 am to 12 midnight every day of the year. During the hours of 10 am to 2 pm and 10 pm to midnight we offer a text phone service using the same number. This is a freephone number which does not show on telephone bills. Calls are answered by women who offer confidential information and support to anyone affected by domestic abuse.
Scottish Women's Aid0131 475 2372 Support, information and safe refuge to women experiencing domestic abuse. Border Women's Aid
10 Exchange Street,
Jedburgh
TD8 6BH
01835 863514Offering support, information and a safe refuge for women and children experiencing domestic violence.
Fax: 01835 863878.Dundee

Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre
PO Box 83
Dundee
DD1 4YZ 01382 201291Helpline opening times - Monday 12-2pm, Tuesday 10am-12pm, Wednesday and Friday 7pm - 9pm, Thursday 2pm - 4pm.
Answering machine at other times.International Women’s Centre01382 462058Dunfermline

Dunfermline Area Abuse Survivors Project01383 739084Glasgow

Darnley Street Family Centre 0141 424 3920Ireland

Women's Aid Northern Ireland01232 331818Donegal Women's Refuge Group (D.D.V.S.) (074) 26267 The D.D.V.S. provides: Accommodation, 24 hour line helpline; 15 Locally-based Clinic Services where you can meet with a trained worker for information, support, court accompaniment, counselling etc. Aoibhneas01-867-0701Provides facilities, professional help and support including
counselling and a 24-hour help-line to women and men who are suffering from Violence in the Home. Based in Dublin.Channel Islands

Women's Aid Jersey0800 735 6836

This information is provided for guidance only and you are strongly recommended to seek suitable expert advice and help.

[lynn P.]

If she's in college, she can call the police and tell them about all the abuse. If she still lives at home, then she could go to a shelter until she can find accomodations else where. She shouldn't be around the abuser/s at all. I hope she gets help and yes the police should be called ASAP.

[Sannah]

Yes, I'm still waiting for her to tell me if she is an adult or minor. Getting away from these abusers is my main question here. I don't think that the shelters will take her because it isn't her partner who is the abuser. So where will she go? If she goes to the police, they take her report then she goes home? This isn't safe at all. I need to know and she needs to know if she will be safe if she goes to the police.

[phoenix7]

there are safe houses she can go to - can she get out now? is there a friend who can get her out ? or can she call the police to get her out?

depending where she is - the services vary - smaller towns and villages have less resources but the 0800 number should be able to help

this page has about refuges and also legal rights and how to get out and what to take if wiht you if you can

http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmon...mesticviolence

it also has another set of numbers that may help

this page is from a refuge and may be useful

http://www.refuge.org.uk/

tells them what to do and how to stay safe
http://refuge.org.uk/get-help-now/

i wil keep them in my thoughts -

[Melbadaze]

Sannah, You've got the links, right now over here in the uk the police are very "up" on protecting refugees that are smuggled over here and into prostitution, so if she goes to the police she will be helped...good luck.

[Sannah]

She is an adult. She is 17. So she can go to safe houses? She doesn't have anyone to help her. She is very isolated.

[Melbadaze]

yes. .

[phoenix7]

Originally Posted by Sannah

Yes, I'm still waiting for her to tell me if she is an adult or minor.

if shes a minor the police wil place her in social services -this can be bad or good depending on where she is placed

Getting away from these abusers is my main question here. I don't think that the shelters will take her because it isn't her partner who is the abuser.

some shelters may take her

So where will she go? If she goes to the police, they take her report then she goes home?

Sannah do you know where she is? what county? small places may not have the resources but larger places would have - get her to ring the 0800 number or the refuge number

can she get out to make a phone call? the police should be helpful -


This isn't safe at all. I need to know and she needs to know if she will be safe if she goes to the police.

there are no guarantees -she should be safe - the police should arrest the person if they have enough evidence

the RAPE and SEXUAL ABUSE LINE may help her more than the domestic violence line - im not sure - she really needs to ring them

the number for the rape and sexual abuse freephone number is
0808 802 9999

[Sannah]

Thank you everyone. If the shelters will take her no matter who the perpetrator is this is what I needed to know. This seems like the safest place to go. I'm still talking to her..........

How it used to work was anyone under the age of 18 (could be 21) who was in need of a home/protection was put under the care of social services and put in foster care.

They also get priority for housing. So are taken care of not just left to fend for themselves, I assume this has not changed but it may of.

[ThePainNeverDies]

Sannah, depending on where she is she can go to live in the YMCA. She can *hopefully* get emergency accomodation, especially if the police are involved. The police, with that sort of thing, I have had bad experiences with but they CAN be helpful and supportive. But she needs solid proof, so maybe go to the police minutes/hours after she has been sexually abused, with the proof of the abuse (their DNA on her etc)

She'll be kept safe if she is being abused and these people will not get away with it. Even just her accusing them of doing it will mean she gets taken away from the situation and kept away. They won't want to risk her being abused again (if it is true in their eyes), and them being prosecuted for putting her back into that situation.

I hope I've helped some...

[Sannah]

TPND, the DNA idea is a good idea TPND. I will pass it on to her. Thank you so much!

[Gulchenrouz]

if they call the police they will take there allegations very seriously, a social worker will be allocated at the police station, they will take them to a place of safety irrespective of age or gender whilst the police investigate further. they already knows this and is probably the reason why they haven't responded to your simple question.

if they have tried already to contact the police or social services, teacher etc regarding this matter and they haven't believed them they would still have offered them temporary accommodation to remove the stressors of living with the person accused until more permanent accommodation could be provided, either way they would not still be living with the alleged abuser.