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Domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) support services

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If in an immediate danger, always call 999. For non-emergencies, dial 101.

My Decision gives victims of rape or sexual assault information on the choices available if they feel unsure about reporting to the Police.

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Find support and services for your needs: 

Domestic abuse support in Richmond

Refuge

Independent domestic violence advisors (IDVAs) at Refuge provide free, confidential, non-judgmental and independent support and advice to anyone aged 16 and over who is experiencing domestic abuse. 

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Refuge enhanced needs support service

This service supports domestic abuse survivors with additional barriers to accessing support and complex support needs such as mental health, homelessness, substance misuse, disabilities.

One Stop Shop service in Richmond

Free drop-in service providing legal advice, information, and support to those experiencing domestic abuse.

  • Location: Hampton Hill Citizens Advice, 1st Floor, 94-102 High Street, Hampton Hill, TW12 1NY
  • Opening times: Every Friday between 10am and 12pm (excluding bank holidays)
  • Appointments: No appointment necessary

This resource can be printed for display or distribution:

If you need support outside of the hours of the One Stop Shop and Refuge's IDVA service, call the freephone 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Hestia refuge accommodation service

If you are looking for a refuge space, call 0808 169 9975 or email Hestia at  refuge.space@hestia.org.uk. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

All victims

  • National Domestic Violence Helpline - This Freephone 24 hour helpline, run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence. The Helpline can give support, help and information over the telephone. All calls are completely confidential. It offers translation facilities for callers whose first language is not English, and a service for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing is available. - 0808 2000 247
  • Women and Girls Network - Offers free and confidential specialist emotional support for women and girls who have experienced recent or historic sexual violence and abuse.
    Telephone: 0808 801 0660
    Sexual Violence Helpline 0808 801 0770.
  • Victim Support offers free services that can help victims of any crime to deal with what they have been through. Services are available to everyone, whether or not the crime has been reported and regardless of when it happened. Telephone: 0808 1689 111
  • Ascent Freephone Advice Line - This pan-London collaboration provides specialist counselling and advice services to women and girls affected by domestic/sexual violence - Telephone: 0808 802 5565
  • The Safety First Scheme aims to reduce repeat victimisation by improving home security for victims who have been subjected to violence and abuse (or threats) from people who do not normally live with them
  • Domestic Violence Intervention Programme runs weekly support groups for women who have experienced domestic violence
  • Rape Crisis South London provides independent support and therapeutic services to female survivors of sexual violence
    • Telephone: 0808 802 9999 (Open daily from 12 to 2.30pm, and from 7 to 9.30pm)
  • The Havens are Sexual Assault Referral Centres set up as a joint initiative by the MPS and the NHS to ensure that victims of rape and sexual assault get the help they need
  • Hourglass: Support for older people who have experienced, or are at risk of, any kind of harm, abuse or exploitation. Helpline 0808 808 8141 open from 9am to 5pm every Monday to Friday 
  • Counselling Directory is a confidential service that encourages those in distress to seek help. The directory contains information on many different types of distress, as well as articles, news, and events
  • Relate provide counselling and support services for couples, families and young people
  • SignHealth is a specialist service for deaf adults and children who have experienced abuse. The service offers practical and emotional support to deaf people who are experiencing domestic abuse, witnessed domestic abuse and to those who have survived it
  • Jewish Women's Aid provides practical and emotional support, therapy services and a confidential free helpline 0808 801 0500 - open 9.30am to 9.30pm Mondays to Thursdays
  • Revive Housing Scheme is Homefinder’s latest division, specialising in relocating domestic abuse survivors to permanent social housing in a new and safe environment in a different part of the country. The service will provide an alternative way to find social housing for survivors without the need to compete against other high priority groups. This is a service for existing Housing Association and Council tenants.
  • Bright Sky | Hestia is a free to download mobile app, providing support and information to those concerned that someone they know is experiencing domestic abuse
    • Available in five 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
  • Safe Spaces - walk into a TSB bank branch, any Boots UK store, Superdrug Pharmacy, Morrisons Pharmacy, or one of the independent pharmacies and ask to use their Safe Space. Victims can use a private room to make telephone calls, speak to a trained member of staff and access information about available support services
  • Hollie Guard - smartphone app that provides enhanced levels of protection. 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 evidence directly to their mobile phones
  • Choice Support - support for people with learning difficulties
  • Citizens Advice Richmond - free advice on any issue, including economic hardship and specialist debt advice service
  • Rail to Refuge - Women's Aid - free train travel for those fleeing domestic abuse
  • EACH Counselling and Support - a part of ASCENT, a pan-London consortium, through which they deliver one to one counselling and group therapy for women and girls experiencing domestic abuse and trauma (age 16+). They accept self-referrals and referrals from services. Call 020 8577 6059 or email infoascent@eachcounselling.org.uk.
  • Respeito - domestic abuse support for Portuguese speaking men and women in London. Call 0300 365 2800
  • East European Resource Centre - provides information, advice and support to people from Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia)
  • Rights of women - free and confidential legal advice and information on issues including domestic violence, child contact, the criminal justice process and immigration and asylum
  • The Cyber Helpline - support for victims of tech abuse
  • Refuge - information on tech abuse
  • Chinese Information and Advice Centre - 0300 201 1868 - support for people facing immigration issues, women and children (including victims of domestic violence), asylum seekers and refugees, homeless people, as well as those in need of benefits and welfare advice

Children and young people

If you have immediate safeguarding concerns about a young person being abused or affected by domestic abuse, contact the Richmond’s Single Point of Access team on 020 8547 5008.  For out of hours concerns, call 020 8770 5000.

Other support services for children and young people include:

  • Childline - call 0800 1111, a 24/7 helpline for anyone under the age of 19 for advice about any issues. Its website also has information on sexual harassment
  • Victim Support - call 0808 168 9111, a free 24/7 helpline for any victim of any crime
  • Women and Girls Network - call 0808 801 0770 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30 to 4pm, plus Wednesday evenings 6 to 9pm). Emotional support for anyone aged 14+ in London who self-identifies as a woman and has been affected by any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives.
  • Shout: text 'SHOUT' to 85258 - free 24/7 text service for anyone who is feeling worried, overwhelmed, or needs support
  • Galop (LGBTQ+ anti abuse charity) - call 0800 999 5428 (Monday and Tuesday 9.15am to 8pm, and Wednesday to Friday 9.15am to 4.30pm) - support for LGBTQ+ young people facing abuse, harassment, or violence
  • Fearless - call 0800 555 111, a 24/7 helpline where young people can report a crime anonymously, without giving their name
  • Abianda delivers programmes working with young women and girls aged up to 25 affected by criminal exploitation and violence and provides training for the professionals who work with them
  • Getting It On - information and resources for young people who have experienced harassment or relationship abuse

Support for male victims

Men’s Advice Line

Telephone: 080 8801 0327

A free confidential helpline for any man experiencing domestic violence and abuse from a partner, ex-partner or other family member.

Survivors UK

Telephone: 020 3598 3898

Provides information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused.

The Mankind National Initiative Helpline

Telephone: 01823 334244

A confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and male victims of domestic violence across the UK.

Ashraya Project

A specialist pan-London IDVA service supporting male, trans+ and non-conforming survivors of domestic abuse with housing and/or immigration needs. Referrals can be made by email to malevictims@victimsupport.org.uk or by calling 0808 168 9291.

Harmful practices – forced marriage/honour-based abuse

Support and services for those who have been victim of harmful practices including forced marriage and honour-based abuse:

Support for the LGBTQ+ community

Domestic abuse affects approximately one in four lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in their lifetimes. This may include abuse related to their sexual orientation or gender identity, such as threatening to 'out' someone to their work or family.

Ashraya Project

0808 168 9291 or email malevictims@victimsupport.org.uk

A free, independent and confidential specialist pan-London IDVA service supporting male, trans and non-conforming survivors of domestic abuse with housing and immigration needs.

GALOP

020 7704 2040

Provides advice and support to lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people who have experienced homophobic or transphobic hate crime or violence in the Greater London area, including sexual abuse.

Metro

020 8305 5000

Services available only in certain boroughs

Stonewall Housing

020 7359 5767

Provides free confidential advice on safe housing for LGBT domestic abuse victims in London.

The Gender Trust

015 2789 4838

Supports all those affected by gender identity issues.

Support for victims and family pets

Cats Protection Lifeline

Offers free, confidential cat fostering for survivors of domestic abuse, enabling people to reach safety while their cats are cared for by trusted volunteers. Operates across multiple UK regions.

Dogs Trust Freedom Project

Provides a free fostering service for dogs belonging to people fleeing domestic abuse. Dogs are temporarily placed with volunteer foster carers until their owners are rehoused and ready to be reunited.

Support for perpetrators

If you are concerned about your behaviour towards your family and/or partner, help is available:  

  • DVIP - call 020 7593 0027 or email riskassessment@dvip.org
  • Respect - call 0808 8024 040 or email info@respectphoneline.org.uk
  • StopSO UK - offering specialist support for people who are worried about their sexual behaviour or troubling sexual thoughts. They provide confidential guidance, therapy and tools to help prevent harm and build healthier behaviours.

Sexual harassment, abuse or violence

Support and services for victims of sexual violence:

  • Rape Crisis South London - call 0808 500 2222 or email info@rasasc.org.uk
  • The Havens - call 020 3299 1599 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or 020 3299 6900 for 24-hour urgent help. Sexual Assault Referral Centres for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted
  • London Sexual Violence Helpline - call 0808 801 0770 between 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30 to 4pm Monday to Friday or 6 to 9pm on weekends
  • National Rape Crisis - call 0808 500 2222 or use the live chat
  • Solace Rape Crisis Helpline - call 0808 801 0305 (Monday and Friday 10am to 2pm, Tuesdays 10am to 1pm and 6 to 8pm, Weekends and Thursdays 1 to 5pm) or email rapecrisis@solacewomensaid.org
  • Survivors Trust - call 0808 801 0818
  • Women and Girls Network - 0808 801 0770 (Monday to Friday 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30 to 4pm, weekends 6 to 9pm)

Stalking

Support and services for stalking victims.

  • National Stalking Helpline - call 0808 8020 300 (Mon + Wed, 9:30am-8pm + Tues, Thurs + Fri, 9:30am-4pm)
  • Paladin – call 02038664107 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
  • Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service Helpline - call 0300 060 6699 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm) if you are receiving unwanted contact from an offender who is in prison or make a non-contact request on GOV.UK
  • Revenge Porn Helpline – call 0345 6000 459 (Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm) if you are affected by intimate image abuse.

Spiking

Spiking is a crime and can be reported to the police.

  • Call 999 in an emergency, 101 in a non-emergency or report online
  • Victim Support - call 08 08 16 89 111
  • Crimestoppers - 0800 555 111 – all reports are anonymous, so this might be a good option for those not wishing to engage with police 

There are also helplines to support you if you experienced any form of sexual harassment, abuse or violence when you were spiked.

Up to: Domestic abuse

Updated: 28 July 2026

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