Domestic abuse support
Help with safety, practical concerns and emotional support after abuse.
For people aged 16 and over. Each service has its own age limits. Choose what feels relevant and take your time.
Read or save the full booklet (PDF)
Where to find help
Urgent help and local support
Find a local IDVA
Hounslow and West London counselling
Support that understands your background
Practical support and refuge options
Support for men and LGBT+ people and stalking
Legal help money and online safety
Support for families and the CONNECT programme
More counselling options
More support for different communities
Sexual abuse support and overseas services
Urgent help and local support
Use a safe device and tell services how they can safely contact you. Support is available for current or past abuse; counselling access depends on assessment and capacity.
Immediate danger - 999
Call 999. If you cannot speak on a mobile, listen and press 55 when prompted to reach police. This does not provide your location; 55 does not apply to landlines.
Refuge - National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Free: 0808 2000 247, 24/7. For women experiencing domestic abuse; safety planning and refuge options. Interpreters available. Live chat: Mon-Fri 10am-10pm; weekends 10am-6pm. British Sign Language: weekdays 10am-6pm. Phone for refuge referrals.
Hounslow Domestic and Sexual Abuse Team
Free advice and practical support for anyone affected by domestic or sexual abuse living in Hounslow. Ask the team which local IDVA service you can access. Call 07810 031 780, Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, or email domesticabusesupport@hounslow.gov.uk. Tell the team how and when it is safe to contact you.
Hounslow One Stop Shop
Free drop-in: Wednesdays 10am-noon, no appointment. Holy Trinity Church, 6 High Street, Hounslow TW3 1HG. Safety, housing, benefits and legal advice. Enquiries: 07810 031 780.
Safe Spaces - pharmacies and banks
Use the directory for participating locations; ask staff to use their Safe Space to contact support privately. Ask for ANI is no longer available in pharmacies.
Useful links
Find a local IDVA
An IDVA is an Independent Domestic Violence Adviser. They help you plan for safety, understand your choices and get practical support with housing, legal processes and other services. They are not a counsellor or your legal representative.
Start with your council or local domestic abuse service
Search your council’s website for “domestic abuse” or ask a local domestic abuse service: “How can I contact an IDVA in my area?” In Hounslow, use the team on page 3. Services have different age, area and referral criteria; some focus on people at high risk. Ask about other support if you do not meet the IDVA criteria.
Women’s Aid local service directory
Find specialist domestic abuse services in England, then ask the service whether it provides IDVAs or can arrange access. The wider information page also links to support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Live chat and the Survivor’s Handbook offer further guidance on housing, money, children and legal rights.
womensaid.org.uk/information-support/womens-aid-directory
womensaid.org.uk/information-support
Bright Sky local service finder
Use the website or app to find domestic abuse support nearby, then ask about an IDVA. Only install the app if your device is safe and not monitored.
Men and LGBT+ people
Men’s Advice Line, ManKind and Galop can help identify suitable local support. Their contact details are on page 8. ManKind also has a directory of local services for men.
mankind.org.uk/help-for-victims/directory
Useful links
Hounslow and West London
counselling
Phoenix Counselling - Feltham
020 8890 3133; contact directly via phone or contact form. In-person and online counselling, not postcode-restricted. Advertises up to six domestic-abuse sessions FREE, then £10 per session; published fee information is dated, so confirm current offer and availability.
EACH - Pathway to Safety / DV Aftercare
Free culturally informed support for women 18+, including counselling and help speaking up and accessing support. Hounslow is included; project-specific criteria apply. Self or professional enquiries: 020 8577 6059; info@eachcounselling.org.uk. Ask for the current domestic-abuse support route. Check whether Ascent is currently accepting referrals.
eachcounselling.org.uk/domestic-abuse
Women & Girls Network - specialist counselling
Free therapy and help speaking up and accessing support for women affected by violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse. Advice/referral: 0808 801 0660; advice@wgn.org.uk. West London counselling enquiry: 020 8567 7347. Service criteria and waiting-list openings vary.
SHEWISE - Hounslow
Free culturally sensitive domestic-abuse advice, support and counselling; contact the service yourself or ask a professional to refer you. Support line: 0333 1881 505. Email: support@shewise.org. Ask about current counselling access and language support.
Southall Black Sisters
Free specialist advice, help speaking up and accessing support and practical support for Black and minoritised women, including migrant women. Local individual practical support includes Hounslow, Ealing and Hillingdon; confirm eligibility. Helpline: 020 8571 0800; contact form below.
southallblacksisters.org.uk/get-help
Useful links
Support that understands your
background
Refuge - Eastern European IDVA, Hounslow
Specialist multilingual outreach for Eastern European women affected by domestic abuse. 07725 245777, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, as listed by Hounslow Council. If unavailable, ask Hounslow’s team for the current route: 07810 031 780.
Ashiana Network
Specialist support and counselling for Black and minoritised women affected by domestic abuse, forced marriage or so-called honour-based abuse. 020 8539 0427; info@ashiana.org.uk. Ask about free counselling, borough eligibility and current referrals.
Aanchal Women’s Aid
Domestic-abuse support for women, particularly South Asian communities. Free support line: 0800 0124 924, Mon-Fri 9am-10pm. East London-based; ask about borough coverage, counselling and free places.
Asian Women’s Resource Centre
Free domestic-abuse and harmful-practices advice and help speaking up and accessing support. Helpline: 0808 169 4455, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Ask about current local support, languages and counselling referrals.
Karma Nirvana
Free support for any gender experiencing so-called honour-based abuse or forced marriage. 0800 5999 247, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Direct helpline contact; no family involvement required to ask for help.
karmanirvana.org.uk/get-help/helpline
Useful links
Practical support and refuge options
Advance / Angelou - West London
Free domestic-abuse help speaking up and accessing support for women. Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster: 0800 059 0108; angelou@advancecharity.org.uk. Ealing: 020 8153 0539; EalingReferrals@advancecharity.org.uk. Brent: same number; brent.admin@advancecharity.org.uk.
Hestia - London Refuge Referral Line
Freephone: 0808 169 9975, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. Helps women find domestic-abuse refuge spaces across London. Ask about availability and accommodation funding. Out of hours: National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247.
Solace Women’s Aid
Free advice line: 0808 802 5565; advice@solacewomensaid.org. London help speaking up and accessing support, refuge and therapeutic services for women; borough and project criteria apply. Ask which current service you can access.
solacewomensaid.org/get-help
Victim Support - domestic abuse
FREE, confidential practical and emotional support, with or without a police report. Supportline: 0808 168 9111, 24/7. Live chat available; request an interpreter or local domestic-abuse referral.
Useful links
Support for men and LGBT+ people
and stalking
Men’s Advice Line - Respect
Free support for male domestic-abuse survivors, including same-sex relationships. 0808 801 0327, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk; webchat available. Emotional support, safety advice and referrals.
mensadviceline.org.uk
Uomini - counselling for male survivors
Specialist counselling for men affected by domestic abuse, abuse by a partner or family violence. Phone/text: 07525 066171; info@uominicounselling.org, or the online enquiry form. Ask about fees, any funded places, session format and availability; free counselling is not confirmed.
uomini.co.uk
ManKind Initiative
Free support for male survivors and people supporting them. 0808 800 1170, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, excluding bank holidays. Practical information and local-service support options, including for same-sex partners.
mankind.org.uk/help-for-victims/how-we-can-help
mankind.org.uk/help-for-victims/directory
Galop - LGBT+ adults 18+
Free specialist abuse support: 0800 999 5428; help@galop.org.uk. Mon-Tue 9:15am-8pm; Wed-Fri 9:15am-4:30pm; closed 1-2pm daily. Check temporary closures and webchat online.
National Stalking Helpline
Free: 0808 802 0300. Press 1 for national support or 2 for London. Advice on stalking, risk and safety planning, including stalking by a partner or ex-partner. Online contact and current hours below.
Useful links
Legal help money and online safety
National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV)
0800 970 2070, option 1; office@ncdv.org.uk. Free help to explore and apply for court orders to help protect you, subject to assessment. Ask about legal-aid/free legal help access and any separate representation costs.
Rights of Women - London legal advice
Free family-law advice for women living or working in London: 020 7608 1137. Mon/Thu 10am-noon and 2-4pm; Tue/Wed 2-4pm; closed bank holidays. Interpreters available. Separate immigration and criminal-law advice lines on the website.
Surviving Economic Abuse
Free guidance on money control, banking, debt and housing. The I Need Help page links to the CEDEAS helpline run by Money Advice Plus and current banking support.
survivingeconomicabuse.org/i-need-help
Refuge Tech Safety
Free domestic-abuse digital-safety guidance. Use a safe device; seek advice before changes to accounts or trackers that could alert an abuser.
refugetechsafety.org
Power and Control Wheel - Duluth Model
Free diagram showing patterns of domestic abuse, including intimidation, isolation, emotional abuse, threats and economic control. View or download the original wheel and translated versions from the official page.
Useful links
Support for families and the
CONNECT programme
Family Rights Group
FREE, independent advice for parents and kinship carers in England whose children are involved with, or need support from, children’s services, including following domestic abuse. 0808 801 0366, Mon-Fri 9:30am-3pm, excluding bank holidays. Interpreters available; online enquiry, webchat and advice sheets. Helps with rights, social-work processes and options.
frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice
Hounslow CONNECT programme
Free nine-week learning and therapeutic support group for children aged 5-15 (school Years 1-10) affected by domestic abuse, with a support group for mothers running alongside it. Helps with understanding experiences, feelings, safety and the mother-child relationship.
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHOUNSLOW/bulletins/42d04fe
Quick referral
Complete the referral form linked on the council programme page and email FFISgroupprograms@hounslow.gov.uk. Safe-parent consent and safe contact details are required. Parent and child are assessed before acceptance. Ask about next groups, borough eligibility and venue.
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHOUNSLOW/bulletins/42d04fe
Key eligibility
Separation from the person using abuse must have occurred; the child may still have contact with them. The child must remember and be affected by the abuse, and attendance must be safe. The programme advises against concurrent therapy: agree coordination with the team rather than stopping existing care independently.
content.govdelivery.com / Open service page
Useful links
More counselling options
Woman’s Trust - domestic-abuse counselling
Free specialist counselling for women 16+ across London: up to 18 weekly sessions, in person, by phone or video. Self- and professional referrals by phone: 020 7034 0303, Mon-Fri 9:30am-5pm; office@womanstrust.org.uk. Places vary by area; Hounslow residents can enquire, but immediate availability is not guaranteed.
womanstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/individual-counselling
Asian Family Counselling Service - Southall
Low-cost culturally sensitive individual counselling for South Asian communities, in English, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Bengali. Face-to-face, telephone or online; usually 6-12 sessions. General counselling: ask for individual support following abuse and confirm fees, concessions and suitability. 020 3876 8978; admin@asianfamily.co.uk.
asianfamilycounselling.org/contacting-us
EACH Mosaic Minds - Hounslow
Free counselling that takes account of the impact of trauma for adults 18+ of all genders from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, including refugees and people seeking asylum in Hounslow. Up to 21 sessions, online or in person; first-language support where available. General counselling, separate from EACH’s domestic-abuse help speaking up and accessing support. Self or professional referral form: referrals@eachcounselling.org.uk; 020 8577 6059. Assessment and service suitability criteria apply. Hillingdon support route is specifically for refugees and asylum seekers.
eachcounselling.org.uk/mosaic-minds
Freedom Programme - understanding domestic abuse
Free facilitated groups for women affected by domestic abuse, usually 11-12 weeks. Helps identify pressure, threats and controlling behaviour, understand experiences and the effects on children. Learning about abuse and mutual support rather than individual therapy. Find a local group using the website’s town/area search; enter ZOOM for online groups. Enquiries: 01942 262270; help@freedomprogramme.co.uk. Separate self-paced women’s online course: £14, with a free sample; confirm local availability and costs.
Useful links
More support for different
communities
Jewish Women’s Aid
Free specialist domestic-abuse support for Jewish women: safety planning, housing and legal options, plus a counselling referral support route. 0808 801 0500; advice@jwa.org.uk. Counselling is accessed through the domestic-abuse or sexual-violence support team; ask about current availability and helpline hours.
IKWRO - Women’s Rights Organisation
Free specialist advice, help speaking up and accessing support and counselling for women and girls from Middle Eastern communities affected by domestic abuse, so-called honour-based abuse, forced marriage or female genital mutilation (FGM). 020 7920 6460; info@ikwro.org.uk. Direct enquiries; ask about counselling eligibility, languages and current capacity. Contact cross-checked against London council listings.
ikwro.org.uk
Latin American Women’s Rights Service - LAWRS
Free confidential domestic-abuse advice, help speaking up and accessing support and counselling for Latin American women, in Spanish and Portuguese. Helpline: 0808 145 4909, Tue-Fri 11am-1pm. Domestic-abuse referrals: referrals@lawrs.org.uk; general enquiries: info@lawrs.org.uk. Limited capacity; no walk-ins.
lawrs.org.uk/contact
Useful links
Sexual abuse support and overseas
services
London Survivors Gateway
Free navigation to specialist sexual-violence support, including abuse by a partner. Any gender, age 11+, living, working or studying in London. 0808 801 0860: Mon 9:30am-5:30pm; Tue/Thu 9:30am-7:30pm; Wed/Fri 9:30am-3:30pm. Self or professional referral online; allocation to a Navigator may take up to three months.
survivorsgateway.london
SurvivorsUK - male and non-binary survivors
Free support following sexual abuse, including by a partner. Phone: 0808 801 0332, Mon-Fri 10am-noon. Webchat/SMS/WhatsApp: daily noon-8pm; message 07860 031252. London individual counselling: contacting the service yourself online or 020 3598 3898; adults can access counselling, groups and practical support. Separate age 13+ support routes also available.
DVIP - Women’s Support Service
Domestic Violence Intervention Project, now part of Waythrough. Support for women whose partners or ex-partners are involved in its violence-prevention work. Women’s support enquiries: 020 7928 4813; dvip.info@waythrough.org.uk. Ask about borough eligibility, free places and referral criteria. Its programme for people using abuse is separate from survivor counselling.
HotPeachPages - Directory of Abuse Services Worldwide
Free international directory of domestic-abuse agencies and abuse information for women and girls. The site advertises information in over 115 languages. Useful for support outside the UK; check each listed service’s current contact details. Directory contact: webmom@hotpeachpages.net (not an urgent-support helpline).