Skip to content

Welcome to our new website

We've moved! Welcome to the new directory replacing NottsHelpYourself and ASKLION. Please note: account registration is currently unavailable, but we’re working to fix this as quickly as possible.

Read more here

Domestic Abuse Support

Here you find information and support services that can provide help, advice and guidance on domestic abuse

If You Are in Immediate Danger:

  • Call 999 and ask for the police.
  • If you cannot speak, dial 999 on a mobile and press 55 when prompted. This will let the police know you need help but cannot talk.
  • If you are not in immediate danger but a crime has occurred, contact the police on 101.
  • Deaf or hearing-impaired users can use Text Relay / NGT: 18001 101.

Emergency support may also include:

  • Safe emergency accommodation arranged by Nottingham City or Nottinghamshire County Council.
  • Access to safe travel via the National Rail network for people fleeing domestic abuse.

On this page

What Is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members. Abuse can take many forms, including:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional or psychological abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Financial or economic abuse
  • Controlling or coercive behaviour

Domestic abuse also includes so called “honour based” abuse, forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).

Sexual violence includes rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse, whether it happened recently or in the past.

Anyone can experience domestic abuse regardless of age, race, sex, gender identity, religion, background, or ethnicity. It is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it.

Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can also include any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship, usually by a partner, ex-partner, or family member.

There are many types of domestic abuse including psychological/emotional, physical, sexual, financial, and online abuse.

Warning Signs

If you recognise one or more of the following behaviours by your partner, this indicates that you could be experiencing domestic abuse:

  • They have tried to stop you seeing your family or friends
  • Your partner often checks up on where you are, or follows you
  • They accuse you of flirting or cheating, without reason
  • Your partner often puts you down, criticises or insults you
  • They make you feel afraid
  • Your partner has forced you to do something you really didn’t want to do
  • They have hurt you or your children
  • Your partner has withheld money from you or put you in debt
  • They have tried to stop you taking your medicine, or seeing a doctor
  • Your partner has threatened to take away your children if you leave
  • They have forced or pressured you to have sex with them or other people
  • Your partner has made you take part in sexual activity that you weren’t comfortable with
  • They force you to take drugs or alcohol
  • Your partner blames their behaviour on drugs, alcohol, depression or their childhood

Signs for Friends

Sometimes our closest friends can be suffering in silence. If you spot any of these signs, your friend may be experiencing domestic abuse in their relationship.

Control

Does your friend’s partner call and text them all the time? Does it ever seem like they’re checking up on your friend?

Isolation

Have you noticed you get to see your friend less and less, and that they’re also seeing less of their other friends and family? Maybe they seem to make excuses about why they can’t meet up, or you get the sense that your friend’s partner is taking over their life.

Manipulation

Does it ever seem like your friend won’t make a decision without checking with their partner first? Do they ever seem worried about their partner’s reaction?

Pressure

Have you noticed that your friend is behaving out of character – e.g. dressing, acting, or speaking differently? Do you think they may ever feel pressured by their partner to look or behave in a certain way?

Jealousy

Does your friend change their behaviour to avoid accusations of cheating from their partner? Does it seem like their partner is often jealous for little reason?

Fear

Have you noticed your friend treading on eggshells to avoid rowing with their partner? Have you ever got the sense that your friend is a bit afraid of them?

Free & Local Support

Nottinghamshire Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline (24/7)

  • 0808 800 0340
  • Free, confidential, 24 hours a day
  • For women, teenagers and children affected by domestic abuse
  • Run by Juno Women’s Aid
  • Translation and interpretation services available
  • Text Relay: 18001 0808 800 0340

Helpline for men affected by domestic abuse

Nottingham Central Women's Aid

Free Programmes For All Women

  • The Freedom programme (12 week domestic abuse support)
  • Own My Life (12 week empowerment programme)
  • Power of change (12 week recovery programme)

More Information, go to Nottingham Central Women’s Aid directory service

Respect Men's Advice Line

The Helpline for male victims of domestic abuse. Talk it over.

Topaz Centre Nottingham

The Topaz Centre SARC offers free support and practical help to adults in Nottinghamshire who has ​experienced sexual violence and/or sexual abuse. Please call to book an appointment.

Juno Women's Aid Helpline

Women Experiencing Domestic Abuse can contact the Juno Women’s Aid helpline 24 hours a day. Free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do NOT appear on itemised bills.

Equation

Our helpline is here for men, or those identifying as men who are experiencing domestic abuse. If you want to talk things through with someone, confidentially, our team are fully trained, compassionate and here to listen whenever you are ready.

Galop - LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline

Our team has decades of experience in supporting LGBT+ people who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, so-called conversion therapies, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse.

Opoka - Polish Domestic Abuse Helpline

Opoka helps women and children in the Polish community to improve health, wellbeing and happiness by stopping domestic violence

Nottingham City Homes

If you are suffering as a result of domestic abuse, you can report it to us using any of the methods below.

Visit a Nottingham Crisis Sanctuary (6pm - 11pm Daily)

The Nottinghamshire Crisis Sanctuaries offers support, information and guidance to anyone 18 years or older in or nearing a mental health crisis. Find out more, go to Nottinghamshire Crisis Sanctuaries (opens in new tab)

Each Crisis Sanctuary will have 3 trained Crisis Intervention Workers who will provide recovery-focused crisis support in a trusted and consistent space for people who require out of hours mental health support. If required, onward community referrals will be made. If you would prefer not to attend the Crisis Sanctuaries, support can be provided via telephone or through video calling platforms. The Crisis Sanctuaries are for anyone near, or at crisis who need a safe space to talk

The Crisis Sanctuaries are delivered through a partnership of Framework, Turning Point and Mind, to collectively support the communities of Nottinghamshire. Further details on the partnership model are available via the Crisis Sanctuaries

  • Chilwell | Mon - Sun, 6 - 11pm, Nottinghamshire Mind, 318 High Road, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 5EG
  • Nottingham | Mon - Sun, 6 - 11pm, The Wellbeing Hub, 73 Hounds Gate, NG1 6BB

TEL: 0330 822 4100 | Lines are open: 4 PM to 11 PM Monday to Sunday

Other Support Services

View all services on Your Notts Directory

Support For Young People

Childline

Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.

The Hideout

Stop domestic violence now. Women's Aid have created this space to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it's happening to you.

Information: The Hideout Website (opens in new tab)

Who can I talk to?

If you decide to talk to someone, it’s important to feel you can trust that person.

Friend/Neighbour:

Sometimes it’s easiest to tell a friend. They can then help you tell an adult. Letting them know what’s going on means they can look out for you in an emergency.

Police:

They’ll probably ask you:

  • to describe what’s happening and who’s in the house
  • if anyone is hurt
  • for your name and address
  • to stay on the phone (if you can) until an officer arrives to help

Teacher:

Teachers know that some children and young people live in homes where there’s violence. Sometimes they’ll have to talk to other adults about what you’ve said. This might be a social worker or a close member of your family – but they should tell you first. You might want to tell them who you think it’s safe for them to talk to.

Social Worker:

Social workers have a responsibility to make sure that children and young people are safe from harm. The social worker may speak to other people in your life, to help them find out what would help you the most. This might be one of your teachers – or perhaps a parent or other family member (but only if it’s safe to do this).

Doctor:

It’s OK to tell your doctor about what’s going on at home. Your doctor might suggest some people you can talk to. She or he might also want to talk to your mum or dad about your worries – but make sure you let your doctor know which adults it’s safe to talk to.

Staying Safe and Getting Ongoing Support

Where possible, services aim to support people to remain safely in their own homes. If it is safe and appropriate, the person causing harm should be the one to leave, not the survivor.

Support services can help with:

  • Safety planning
  • Emotional and practical support
  • Access to housing and refuge
  • Legal options and advocacy
  • Specialist programmes such as recovery or empowerment courses.

Training

Training (Professionals)

Local Providers: Training (Equation)

Local Research: Domestic Abuse (Nottinghamshire Insight)

External Resources

Last updated: 27 March 2026