Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. It’s never your fault and you don’t have to suffer. You will be listened to, believed and you can break free. Please reach out for help.
Always dial 999 in an emergency
If you’re in danger and can’t talk, call 999, listen to the questions and respond by whispering, coughing or tapping the phone if you can. You may be asked to press 55 so police can help you.
If you call 999 from a landline police can track your location.
Emergency text
If you are d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulty speaking you can send an emergency text. You must register your phone with the emergencySMS. Text REGISTER to 999. You will get a text which tells you what to do next. Do this when it is safe so you can text when you are in danger.
SignHealth also specialises in supporting deaf people experiencing domestic abuse.
Safe in Salford domestic abuse support service:
Safe in Salford is a one front door domestic abuse support service which provides independent advice and support for women, men, children and young people.
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm 0161 793 3232 or email info@safeinsalford.org.uk. Staff aim to respond to phone messages within 24 hours and emails within 72 hours. To help us keep our phoneline free for urgent support, please email us info@safeinsalford.org.uk where possible.
The Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline
Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm 0800 254 0909.
For anyone over 16 who is experiencing or has experienced domestic abuse and violence in any form and their friends and family who want to support them.
It can help with emotional support, legal options, safety planning, housing and referrals to refuges. Calls are confidential and not recorded. Support is available if English is not your first language.
English National Domestic Violence Helpline – 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Call: 0808 2000 247 24 hours anytime or chat to them online live Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm.
Translation facilities if your first language is not English.
BT Type Talk for callers with hearing difficulties.
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk (you will receive a response within three working days)
The Women's Aid website provides a wide range of resources to help women and young people.
This includes The Survivor's Handbook which provides a range of information including legal and housing advice, tips on how to create a safety plan and advice for people with specialist housing needs. It's available in 11 languages and in audio.
Women’s Aid also has a website all about love and healthy relationships with danger signs to look out for, stories from women who survived toxic relationships and advice on what to do. Love shouldn’t feel bad and everyone has a right to be safe and happy.
They also run a website to support to children and teenagers who may be living in a home affected by domestic violence, or who may be in a violent relationship themselves.
Call: 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
Housing advice:
Salford Housing Options Point (SHOP) provides a wide range of housing advice and assistance. It is open at Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 5AD 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Wednesday and Fridays; 10am to 4.30pm on Thursdays.
Email housing.advicecentre@salford.gov.uk
If you need emergency accommodation outside office hours please call Salford City Council’s out of hours service on 0161 794 8888.
Please also see Shelter for advice on housing in domestic abuse situations
Victim support (free support line)
Greater Manchester call: 0300 303 0162; nationally call: 08 08 16 89 111
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm.
Contact via live chat from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Police:
Call 101 for non emergencies or find your nearest police station.
There is information on the GMP website about domestic abuse and useful contacts.
Legal advice
Rights of Women offers confidential legal advice on domestic and sexual violence. They produce free information sheets which can be downloaded from their website.
Family law advice line: 020 7251 6577 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 7pm to 9pm; Friday 12 noon to 2pm)
Criminal law advice line: 020 7251 8887 (Tuesday 11am to 1pm)
Immigration and asylum law advice line: 020 7490 7689 (Monday 12 noon to 3pm; Thursday 10am to 1pm)
Textphone advice line: 020 7490 2562 (on the days and times above)
Administration: 020 7251 6575
Fax: 020 7490 5377
Email: info@row.org.uk
Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors (FLOWS)
FLOWS gives legal advice to women who are affected by domestic abuse - they also give advice to front line workers.
Call: 0203 745 7707 from 9am to 5pm every day.
Email: FLOWS@rcjadvice.org.uk
Contact Safe in Salford (see above)
Confidential advice and information to older people who are victims of violence or abuse. Relatives and friends can also contact the helpline on behalf of the person.
Helpline: 0808 808 8141 (freephone Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm)
Email: enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk
Safe in Salford is a one front door support service which provides independent advice and support for men.
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm 0161 793 3232 or email info@safeinsalford.org.uk. Staff aim to respond to phone messages within 24 hours and emails within 72 hours.
The Men's Advice Line is a confidential helpline for all men experiencing domestic violence by a current or ex-partner. They provide emotional support and practical advice and details of specialist services that for advice on legal, housing, child contact, mental health and other issues.
Call: 0808 801 0327
The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
The ManKind Initiative is a charity offering information and support to men who are victims of domestic abuse or violence. This can include information and support on reporting incidents, police procedures, housing, benefits and injunctions. They can refer you to a refuge, local authority or other another support service if you need it.
Call: 01823 334 244
Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm (except Friday evenings)
Email: admin@mankind.org.uk
This is a helpline for men who have been victims of rape or sexual abuse.
Online chat with SurvivorsUK
Text message: 020 3322 1860
WhatsApp: 07491 816064
Open Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 8pm
Admin: 0203 598 3898 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm)
Email: info@survivorsuk.org
A national helpline for men who have who have been raped, assaulted or abused in childhood or adult life. The helpline also supports partners (male and female) and family members of abused men.
Call: 0808 808 4321
Open on Thursday evenings, 8pm to 10pm
Email: support@seva-uk.org
Jewish women
Jewish Women’s Aid has 30 years of supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse and/or sexual violence
Staff understand Jewish religious laws, practice and customs and can offer access to community support such as grants, legal advice including specialist Jewish legal advice, counselling, children’s therapy benefits and welfare advice and housing.
Call: 0808 801 0500
Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 9pm
Muslim women
Greater Manchester Domestic abuse helpline is a free, confidential line which can provide advice and help you make a safety plan. Advice is available in Urdu and Punjabi. Call 0161 636 7525.
The Community Helpline Language Service (CHLS)
Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm 0800 254 0909.
The CHLS provides advice in Urdu and Punjabi. It is a confidential service whose workers understand Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, cultures and issues. It runs alongside the Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline.
Saheli
Meaning friendship, Saheli provides emergency refuge accommodation, specialist counselling and support to empower Black, Asian and ethnic minority women.
Call 0161 945 4187 or email help@saheli.org.uk
Honour Network Helpline
The Honour Network Helpline is a national helpline run by Karma Nirvana, a national charity which advises victims and survivors of forced marriage and honour-based abuse.
Honour Network Helpline
PO Box 148
Leeds
LS13 9DB
Call: 0800 599 9247 Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm
Galop for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
Call: 0800 999 5428
Support for anyone aged 16 plus living in Greater Manchester. The Foundation can help with emotional and practical support and safety and future planning and also offers a 10 week survivors group programme to help recovery.
Call 0345 3 30 30 30 or complete their online self referral form
A national charity supporting LGBTQ+ people of all ages in the UK who are experiencing homelessness or living in an unsafe environment, including domestic abuse. The charity cannot provide emergency accommodation (please see housing above.)
Call 0800 6 404 404 or email info@stonewallhousing.org or complete the online referral form.
Free counselling and support for under 18s who have experienced domestic abuse is available from TLC Talk, Listen, Change as part of the Safe In Salford service. Call 0161 872 1100 Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm or email enquiries@talklistenchange.org.uk for more information
TDAS has one to one and group-based programmes to provide support to children and families and independent advocates who can work directly with young people. Call 0161 872 7368 or visit the TDAS website.
Call: 0800 1111
Trained counsellors for supporting and advising children.
Call: 0808 800 5000
24 hour helpline offering counselling for children and for reporting concerns regarding children.
Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
Call: 0808 802 9999
St Mary’s Sexual Assault Centre
Call: 0161 276 6515
24 hour confidential service
Advice on how to deal with any type of stalking behaviour, including how to report it to the police.
Call: 0808 802 0300
Open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm
Email: advice@stalkinghelpline.org
This page was last updated on 27 June 2023