Support and help for adults

In an emergency

Phone 999 if you are in immediate danger, or ask someone else to phone. State whether you need the police, ambulance or fire service. Try to move to a safe place, avoid kitchens or stairs, and stay near a door for a quick escape if you have to leave the area you are in.

If you are unable to speak when you call 999, press 55 when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police. This only works with mobiles. 

If the situation is not an emergency, but you still need the police, call 101.

Domestic abuse support 

Reach Out

A support service for any adult or child aged 16 or over living in Redbridge who is experiencing, or may be at risk of domestic abuse. Reach Out understand that everyone's situation is unique so can support you in a way that works best for you and keeps you safe. Reach Out also support children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse.

• Telephone: 0800 145 6410
• E-mail: reachout@redbridge.gov.uk
• Complete a referral form (professionals only)
• Opening hours Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm

Outside of these hours please contact:

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

• Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If you need help 

Safe2Talk

A non-judgmental physical space for women and girls (or anyone) who has experienced sexual assault, harassment, or abuse to come and speak one-on-one with female experts including a police officer, a domestic abuse specialist, a Redbridge housing officer and an immigration lawyer from Ashiana Network.

View upcoming dates for the monthly session at Fullwell Cross Library in Barkingside 

If you need help or are concerned for somebody else, you can also contact the following:

Rape and sexual violence support 

The Havens

The Havens support anyone in London who has been raped or sexually assaulted in the past 12 months including men, women, young people and children of all ages. The service offers treatment, advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

• If you have been sexually assaulted in the last seven days please call 0203 299 6900
• If you would like advice about support following sexual assault that took place over seven days ago please call 020 3299 1599

East London Rape Crisis

East London Rape Crisis provided by Nia is a free, confidential specialist support service for women and girls who have been raped or experienced any other form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. The helpline includes support/advice for friends, family and professionals. 

• Call: 0800 160 1036
• Email: rapecrisis@niaendingviolence.org.uk
• If your call is unanswered, leave a message with a safe telephone number and the best time to call you, and they will call you back

Specialist help and support

Young people as victims of domestic abuse or in violent relationships

Specialist advice for young people in abusive or violent relationships is available:

Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership (RSCP)

Relationships can be fun and exciting but they can also be confusing and harmful. It’s important to understand what a healthy relationship looks like and to know what isn’t okay.

Read about RSCP's advice on healthy and unhealthy relationships

Support for victims from ethnic minority groups

Aanchal Women's Aid

Aanchal provides advice and support in 7 South Asian languages, Lithuanian, Polish and Russian:

• Call 0800 0124 924 (Helpline hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 am - 10:00 pm)

Ashiana Network

The Ashiana Network provides advice and support for South Asian, Turkish, Kurdish and Iranian women.

• Call 0208 539 0427

The Refuge Eastern European Service

A support service for women and girls affected by gender-based violence and/or abuse within intimate or family relationships. The service is a culturally specific specialist domestic abuse support service run by Eastern European outreach workers that speak Romanian, Russian and Lithuanian. 

• Call 07909 000 195 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
• Email easterneuropeanservice@refuge.org.uk

Karma Nirvana

Karma Nirvana gives help and support for victims of honour-based violence and forced marriage:

• Call 0800 5999 247 (24 hours)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Advice: Forced Marriage Unit

Contact the Forced Marriage Unit if you are trying to stop a forced marriage or need help leaving a marriage you have been forced into:

• Call 0207 008 0151
• If overseas, call 0044 207 008 0151 

Support for LGBTQ+ victims of domestic abuse 

Galop 

Galop supports LGBTQ+ people who are experiencing domestic abuse and people supporting a survivor of domestic abuse:

• Call 0800 999 5428 (Monday and Tuesday 9am to 5pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 8pm and Friday 9am to 5pm)
• Email help@galop.org.uk

Support for male victims of domestic abuse

Respect Men's advice line

The Respect Men's advice line provides help for male victims of domestic abuse:

• Call: 0808 801 0327 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm)
• Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk (Monday to Friday  9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 12pm and  4pm to 6pm)

If you are concerned someone may be being abused

• If you are worried about their immediate safety, call 999
• Report a crime by calling police on 101
• Report anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or online
• Stay connected by keeping regular contact. This creates safe spaces and opportunities to ask for help
• Let your friend know that you’ve noticed something is wrong. They might not be ready to talk, but try to find quiet times when they can talk if they choose to
• Call the freephone 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit the National Domestic Abuse Helpline website to get a call back
• Do not approach or contact the perpetrator. This could escalate the abuse and put you and the person at risk of harm

Advice from GOV.UK and the survivor's handbook

More information is available on the central government website, including:

• Signs and behaviours to help you recognise if you are in an abusive relationship
• The domestic violence disclosure scheme
• Applying for settled status and benefits
• Universal credit adjustments

Women's Aid, a national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children, have produced a survivors handbook, which provides practical support and information for women experiencing domestic abuse. The handbook is also available in multiple languages and audio versions.

The Victim's Code 

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, found on the Government's website, sets out the minimum standards that must be provided to victims of crime by organisations in England and Wales.

Victims of crime should be treated in a respectful, sensitive and professional manner without discrimination of any kind. There are also other rights that are set out in the Code and it explains how to make a complaint if your rights have not been met.