CouncilSupport organisations
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- Useful contact information
- Women’s refuges
- Floating support
- Information, advice and advocacy
- The police
- Legal advice and protection
- Counselling and support groups
- Support for children and young people
- Rape and sexual assault
- Alcohol / drug problems
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender domestic violence
- Male victims of domestic violence
- Directory of domestic violence contacts
- Other useful websites
Useful contact information
- National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247
- Rights of Women (legal advice) - 020 7251 6577
- Victim Support Line - 0845 30 30 900
- NSPCC Child Protection Helpline - 0800 800 500
- Childline - 0800 1111
- Shelterline - 0808 800 4444
- Broken Rainbow (LGBT DV referral line) - 0845 260 4460
- Respect Phoneline (for perpetrators) - 0845 122 8609
- Reunite (advice about child abduction) - 0116 2556 234
- Men’s Advice Helpline - 08088010327
Women’s refuges
Women's refuges provide safe temporary accommodation for women and children, including specialist refuges for black and Asian women, and women with learning disabilities. Refuges have key workers who can help with things like benefits claims and applications for re-housing, as well as provide support and encouragement.
To access a refuge call the Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247 (24 hrs)
Floating support
Tower Hamlets Asian Women’s Aid offer floating support services that provide medium to long term support to women who have been re-housed after escaping domestic violence. Floating support workers conduct risk and needs assessment and agree a support plan with you, designed to help you live safely and independently. The service is specifically for Asian women.
Tel: Tower Hamlets Asian Women's Aid: 020 7517 1420 / 07904 343 125 / 07940 050 560.
Information advice and advocacy
Tower Hamlets Victim Support
Free, confidential support for victims of crime, whether or not the crime has been reported to the police. Information on police, legal and housing procedures, support through Court proceedings and referral to solicitors and other agencies. Female Bengali / Sylheti and Somali speakers available. Open to anyone, including male victims.
tel: 020 8983 5454
East London Asian Family Counselling
Confidential counselling service for Bangladeshi families experiencing difficulties including domestic violence.
tel: 020 7739 5058
The Police
The police give a high priority to domestic violence and will treat all calls to violent incidents seriously.
In an emergency, call the police on 999
Tower Hamlets Police Community Safety Unit
A specialist unit dealing with all kinds of hate crime, including domestic violence. Trained officers investigate cases, explain court procedures, put you in touch with support services and give advice on your legal options and safety issues.
tel: 020 7275 4757
website: www.met.police.uk/dv
Legal advice and protection
You may be able to get a court order (injunction) to make your partner stay away from you, not harass or assault you, and / or leave the family home. To do this it is best to seek legal advice from a solicitor who specialises in Family Law.
Tower Hamlets Law Centre
Legal advice and representation on immigration, housing and welfare benefits.
tel: 020 7247 8998
Community Legal Service Direct
Access free legal help and information. You can find a solicitor or legal adviser in your area, check if you are eligible for legal aid, or find advice from one of over 300 carefully selected websites.
website: www.clsdirect.org.uk
Rights of Women
Free legal advice for women over the telephone
tel: 020 7251 6577
website: www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
Counselling & support
Women who have experienced domestic violence often find counselling a way forward in helping them to come to terms with their experiences and to be able to move on with their lives.
THPCT counselling & psychology service
A clinical service provided to anyone, from under 5’s to adults. They see both individuals and couples and offer clinical services, bilingual counselling services and disability counselling services.
tel: 020 7791 3660
Women’s Trust
Offer an independent, confidential, women only service to women who have been or are affected by domestic violence.
tel: 020 8522 7856/7455
Email: admin@wtrusteast.entadsl.com
Support for children and young people
Children can be deeply affected by domestic violence. There are services that can help children to talk and understand their experiences and help you to rebuild communication and understanding with them.
NCH Barika Project
Provides support for women and children who have experienced domestic violence through one-to-one sessions and group work. This service supports families where the abuse has ended. It is not a crisis or emergency service.
tel: 020 7364 6230
Step Forward
Confidential counselling service for young people aged 11-25, has Bengali and English speaking counsellors.
Website: www.stepforward-web.org.
tel: 020 7739 3082
Childline
Childline is a free helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can talk about any problem – counsellors are always there to help sort it out.
tel: 0800 1111
Rape and sexual assault
The Haven
The Haven is a sexual assault referral centre where specially trained, experienced professionals can give you medical help and advice, counselling and practical and emotional support. They can help with the immediate trauma of sexual assault and guide you along the road to recovery. The service is completely confidential. Phone any time for an appointment.
tel: 020 7247 4787
Survivors UK
Survivors UK provide help for men who have been sexually assaulted or raped.
tel: 020 7357 6677
Alcohol / drug problems
Drug and alcohol service for London
Alcohol East is a group for men with drink / drug problems who are perpetrators of domestic violence. They also provide support, advice and information to their partners.
Website: dasl.org.uk
tel: 020 8257 3068
Tower Hamlets Community Drug Team
A direct access service for drug users offering counselling, advice, community prescribing and complementary therapies. Also has a family support service.
Isis Women’s Drug Service
Women only drug service, for adults. Service offers comprehensive assessments, treatments, health screening and sexual advice. Also provide shared care prescribing, advocacy, onward referral and access to BBV screening. Service has Somali and Bengali advocates. Drop in from 1-4pm Monday-Friday.
tel: 020 7426 0399
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender domestic violence
Broken Rainbow
A telephone advice and referral service for people experiencing domestic violence in LGBT relationships.
tel: 0845 260 4460
Tower Hamlets Victim Support Scheme
LGBT Hate Crime development worker with domestic violence training, able to work with victims in same-sex relationships and male victims who prefer to speak to a male worker.
Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk
tel: 020 8981 8421
Male victims of domestic violence
It is a common myth that men do not face domestic violence. Men can be victims of abuse in their home either at the hands of their female partner, or from other family members or, in the case of same sex relationships, their male partner.
Male victims of domestic violence can access legal advice and protection, advocacy support, and housing assistance in the same ways as female victims. The council’s Domestic violence team will fully support male victims as well as Tower Hamlets Victim Support.
Men’s advice help line
Provides a range of services aimed primarily at men experiencing domestic abuse from their partner. Provides emotional and practical support. Provides sign-posting to a range of services including housing and legal options. It also provides support to professionals both in statutory and voluntary agencies.
tel: 0808 801 0327
Directory of domestic violence contacts
Domestic violence raises a complex range of issues. Families experiencing violence have a wide range of needs which change over time - from crisis support and protection, to re-housing and services to help rebuild their lives. This directory gives information about a wide range of services that can help.
- domestic violence information directory (PDF 2Mb)
