Domestic Abuse
Information for those who have or are experiencing domestic abuse.
Domestic Abuse, what is it?
According to Women’s Aid, domestic abuse is ‘an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer’.
Domestic abuse includes, but is not limited to:
- Coercive control.
- Psychological abuse.
- Emotional abuse.
- Physical abuse.
- Sexual abuse.
- Financial or economic abuse.
- Harassment.
- Stalking.
- Online/ digital abuse.
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, religion or gender.
Helpful Services
For Women:
Women’s Aid Luton:
Women’s Aid support women and children who have or are experiencing domestic abuse. It is a grassroots federation working together to provide life changing as well as life saving services in England to build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated.
Telephone: 01582 391856 (helpline) 01582 876636 (head office)
Email: info@womensaidinluton.org
Website: womensaidinluton.org
Stepping Stones Luton:
Stepping Stones is a charity dedicated to empowering women who have suffered domestic abuse or are vulnerable due to substance misuse by providing hope and the skills and resources to make positive life choices.
Telephone: 01582 457114
Email: hello@steppingstonesluton.org.uk
Website: steppingstonesluton.co.uk
For Men:
Mankind Initiative:
Mankind provide information, support and signposting services to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. This can range from physical violence or object throwing to abuse such as constant bullying or insults.
Telephone: 01823 334244 (helpline)
Website: mankind.org.uk
Men’s Advice Line:
Men’s Advice Line is a team of friendly Advisors who will listen and believe you. Their team are available to offer you non-judgmental support, practical advice and information. The focus is to increase the safety of men experiencing domestic abuse (and the safety of any children) by providing confidential support.
Telephone: 0808 8010327
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
Website: mensadviceline.org.uk
For LGBTQIA+:
Galop:
GALOP have a team of professionals who support LGBT+ individuals who have experienced hate crime, sexual violence and/or domestic abuse, forced marriage, so called conversion therapies, honour based violence as well as other forms of abuse.
Telephone: 0800 9995428
Email: help@galop.org.uk
Website: galop.org.uk
Loving Me:
Loving Me are a service which provides one-to-one support and advocacy, for Trans and Non-Binary victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence who are aged 18 and over and live in England.
Telephone: 07902 478958
Email: help@lovingme.uk
Website: https://www.lovingme.uk/
Leaflets
Are you experiencing domestic abuse? Please see below for some helpful information.
Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Support Service Directory – November 2022- Local and national support services.
Womens Aid Domestic Abuse– All about domestic abuse.
Stalking Leaflet– A helpful leaflet about stalking.
Womens-Aid-Facebook-Safety-Guide-2017– Empowering women to be safe online.
Mankind Leaflet- Support for male victims.
Forced Marriage– About forced marriage.
Karma Nivarna Honour Based Abuse & Forced Marriage– About honour based abuse and forced marriage.
IDVA Domestic Abuse– About domestic abuse.
Galop LGBT Domestic Abuse Leaflet– Support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and honour based abuse.
Support-for-Gypsy-Roma-and-Traveller-LGBT-people-and-their-families-Copyright-2019-1- Support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller LGBT individuals.
Smartphone App, Bright Sky
Bright Sky is a safe, easy-to-use app that provides practical support and information about domestic abuse. It is designed for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or anyone who is worried about a friend, family member, or colleague.
Bright Sky helps you to spot the signs of abuse, know how to respond, and find a safe route to support.
You can download the app for free via the App Store for iOS and Google Play Store for Android.
Please only download the app if it is safe for you to do so and if you are sure that your device isn’t being monitored.
See the poster below for more details.
