Where to Get Help (UK)

This page is for people looking for help and advice about bullying and abuse.

Please make sure you are safe/alone before ringing a helpline, and delete the call record from your phone. Cover your tracks online too, by using your browser’s “incognito” or “private” mode, or deleting your history (remember to clear cookies/cache too). Challenging or otherwise antagonising your abuser – by leaving, thinking of leaving, or trying to get some outside help – could make the abuse worse.

Recommended Reading

• Living with the Dominator, by Pat Craven – This book accompanies The Freedom Programme, a set of workshops about domestic abuse.
• Who’s Pulling Your Strings?, by Harriet Braiker – This book is about manipulation, how to spot it, and what to do about it.

Bullying & Abuse: General

• Women’s Aid – information & 24h helpline (same number as for Refuge).
• Refuge – information & 24h helpline (same number as for Women’s Aid).
• 24h National Domestic Violence Helpline – same number as for Women’s Aid and Refuge.
• The Freedom Programme – workshops/information about domestic abuse.
• National Bullying Helpline
• Contact a Family – help and advice for parents of disabled children, including offering advice on how to approach a school with a bullying issue – includes helpline.
• Karma Nirvana – supporing victims of honour crime and forced marraiges. Includes helpline.
• NSPCC: Bullying & Cyber-bullying – information for parents/carers.
• Abuse Survivors: information, advice, and support – focus on mental health issues.
• Victim Support: domestic abuse.
• Support Line: helpline providing emotional support for an extremely wide range of issues.
• Breathing Space (Scotland) – helpline for those who feel low.
• The Samaritans – for everyone.

• Rape Crisis – includes helpline
• NHS Choices: Help After Rape or Sexual Assault
• Lifecentre: for survivors of rape/sexual abuse – includes helpline.
• Victim Support: page for victims of rape or sexual assault.
• Support Line: helpline providing emotional support for an extremely wide range of issues.

• Childline – includes helpline.
• Lifecentre: for survivors of rape/sexual abuse includes under 18s helpline.
• Bullying UK – includes helpline
• NHS Choices: Bullying – How to Stop It
• Think U Know? – advice for online safely, includes reporting service.
• Respect helpline for male abuse-victims (aged 16+): 0808 801 0327, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
• Karma Nirvana – supporing victims of honour crime and forced marraiges. Includes helpline.
• Support Line: helpline providing emotional support for an extremely wide range of issues.

• Karma Nirvana – supporing victims of honour crime and forced marraiges. Includes helpline.
• Support Line – helpline providing emotional support for an extremely wide range of issues.

• Rights of Women – Various helplines, including immigration / asylum law / trafficking-related issues.

• Galop – includes helpline, and email.
• Switchboard – includes helpline, IM messaging, and email.

• Revenge Porn Helpline – includes helpline, online chat, and email.

• ManKind – includes helpline.
• Men’s Advice Line – information and helpline.
• NHS Choices: Domestic Violence Against Men
• Respect – helpline for male victims (16+): 0808 801 0327, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
• Shelter: Domestic Abuse Against Men
• Karma Nirvana – supporing victims of honour crime and forced marraiges. Includes helpline.
• Victim Support: information for male victims of rape and sexual assault.
• Support Line: helpline providing emotional support for an extremely wide range of issues.

Elderly / Older people

• The Silver Line – helpline for older people: 0800 470 8090 (or, from a mobile: 0300 740 8090).
• Support Line: helpline providing emotional support for an extremely wide range of issues.

• Victim Support: childhood abuse.
• Abuse Survivors: information, advice, and support – focus on mental health issues.
• NAPAC: National Association for People Abused in Childhood – includes helpline.
• Support Line: helpline providing emotional support for an extremely wide range of issues.

• Respect helpline for perpetrators: 0808 802 4040, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
• Refuge: “I am an abuser”