Directory of domestic abuse victim support

In this section:

Directory of up-to-date numbers, emails and websites of all local and national services

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Bright Sky mobile app

Bright Sky is a free to download mobile app, providing support and information for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or someone concerned about a friend or family member. In addition, the app is available for use by employers and service providers.

You can download Bright Sky for free at the Google Play Store or App Store.

The app is available in:

  • English
  • Polish
  • Punjabi
  • Urdu

Help for women

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid - refuge

11 units of local specialist domestic abuse refuge accommodation for women aged 16 and over and their dependent children.

  • opening hours: 7 days a week from 9.15am to 5.15pm (excluding some bank holidays)
  • telephone: free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0028
  • webchat service: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm
  • helpline for deaf or people with a hearing impairment : 18001 0808 800 0028
  • outside these hours contact the 24 Hour National Domestic Violence freephone helpline: 0808 2000 247
  • website: bswaid.org

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid - information and advice

This service gives women information, advice, provides emotional support, safety planning, a risk assessment, onward referral to other services and can respond to someone in crisis.

  • opening hours: 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday
  • telephone: 0121 722 2142 and free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0028
  • webchat service: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm
  • email: solihull.admin@bswaid.org
  • website: bswaid.org

Panahghar

Six units of local specialist domestic abuse refuge accommodation for women from ethnic minority backgrounds aged 16 and over and their dependent children.

Solihull Council - Adult Social Care

Get help from adult social care, protecting adults with care and support needs

Solihull Council - Children’s Services

Women’s Aid

The national charity working to end domestic abuse by empowering survivors, working with and for women and children by listening to them and responding to their needs.

National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV)

Providing free, fast and effective legal support to survivors of domestic violence and abuse, usually by helping individuals obtain injunctions from their local county court.

Rights of Women

Rights of Women works to help women understand their legal rights.

Local service

West Midlands Forced Marriage and Honour Abuse helpline

Offering confidential, empathetic and non-judgmental emotional and practical support, over the phone, to victims and survivors aged from 13 years living in the West Midlands. This helpline is run in partnership with Panahghar, Roshni and SWAN.

  • opening hours: the helpline is open 24 hours day - multilingual
  • telephone: 0800 953 9777
  • website: ipwm.org.uk

National services

Karma Nirvana

Karma Nirvana is a national charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, they support and work with all victims

Forced Marriage Unit (FMU)

A trained professional provides victims with free advice on what to do next. They can also help a person find a safe place to stay or stop a UK visa if someone is being forced to sponsor someone.

  • opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
  • telephone: 020 7008 0151
    • out of hours call 020 7008 5000 and ask for the Global Response Centre
    • from overseas: +44 (0)20 7008 0151
  • email: fmu@fco.gov.uk 
  • website: www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage

Muslim Women's Network UK

Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK) are a small national charity and work to improve the social justice and equality for Muslim women and girls.

Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation

Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) helps Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls who are living in the UK, providing confidential advice on issues including domestic violence, “honour” based violence, forced marriage, child marriage, female genital mutilation, separation and divorce, child custody, housing and benefits.

  • opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.00pm
  • telephone: 020 7920 6460
  • For out-of-hours emergencies call:
    • 07846 275246 - to speak to someone in Kurdish, Arabic or English:
    • 07846 310157 - to speak to someone in Farsi, Dari or English
  • email: info@ikwro.org.uk
  • website: ikrwo.org.uk

Sikh Helpline

The Sikh Helpline helps any individual (regardless of age, gender, race, culture, physical or mental disabilities, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, class or status) who is in need of emotional support, guidance and advice with various issues on a one-to-one basis.

The Sharan Project

The Sharan Project is a national charity supporting South Asian women in the UK who have been or are at risk of being disowned by their families/communities due to persecution or abuse, including forced marriage, domestic violence, honour abuse and cultural conflict.

National services

NSPCC FGM helpline

The anonymous, free dedicated FGM helpline is for anyone who is worried a child is at risk of or has already had FGM.

Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development

Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) work with communities and safeguards girls at risk of FGM and supports women living with the consequences. They engage directly with women and men in communities to raise awareness of the risks of FGM. 

Daughters of Eve

Daughters of Eve support young people who are at risk of FGM or who have had FGM. 

National FGM Support Clinics - Birmingham clinic

National FGM Support Clinics (NFGMSCs) are community-based clinics that offer a range of support services for women with FGM.

Local services

Black Country Women’s Aid

Provide the West Midlands Stalking Support Service which supports women and men aged over 13 who are experiencing stalking and harassment.

Victim Support

Offer information and advice, longer-term emotional and practical help, advocacy, personal safety services and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

West Midlands Police

Advice on stalking.

National services

National Stalking Helpline - Suzy Lamplugh Trust

They have worked towards reducing the risk of harassment, stalking, aggression, and violence by empowering people to take steps to avoid, mitigate or manage risks across all aspects of their life.

Paladin - National Stalking Advocacy Service

Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service (NSAS) is a trauma-informed service established in 2013, to assist high risk victims of stalking in England and Wales. Their unique trained team of accredited Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers (ISACs) ensure that high risk victims of stalking are supported and that a coordinated community response is developed locally to keep victims and their children safe.

The National Stalking Clinic (NSC)

The National Stalking Clinic (NSC) is a specialist service providing assessment and consultation for those who have engaged in stalking behaviour.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent, and confidential advice.

Samaritans

If you need someone to talk to, then Samaritans can listen.

Victim Support

Confidential emotional and practical help to people who have been affected by crime. If you need to speak to someone, we’re available every day, night, and day

West Midlands Police

In an emergency call the police by dialling 999 and press 55 on your phone when prompted or in a non-emergency dial 101.

Help for men

Birmingham LGBT

Males in Solihull that have experienced domestic abuse, regardless of sexual orientation, can contact Birmingham LGBT for free and confidential support. This service gives men information, advice, provides emotional support, safety planning, a risk assessment, and onward referral to other services.

Adult Social Care

Get help from adult social care, protecting adults with care and support needs.

Panahghar

Support is available to victims via telephone, email, and face-to-face (delivered at locations that are safe and convenient to the victim). Each victim who engages will have an assessment of need and risk and be supported in the development of a safety plan.

ManKind Initiative

Our confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and male victims of domestic violence across the UK. The helpline provides both emotional support and practical information.

Respect - Men’s advice Line

Look to increase the safety of men experiencing domestic abuse (and the safety of any children) by providing confidential support.

Survivors UK

A society that acknowledges, supports, and advocates for men and non-binary people who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent, and confidential advice.

Samaritans

If you need someone to talk to, we listen. We won't judge or tell you what to do.

Victim Support

Confidential emotional and practical help to people who have been affected by crime. If you need to speak to someone, we’re available every day, night, and day

West Midlands Police

In an emergency call the police by dialling 999 and press 55 on your phone when prompted or in a non-emergency dial 101.

Help for children and young people

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid - information and advice

This service gives women information, advice, provides emotional support, safety planning, a risk assessment, onward referral to other services and can respond to someone in crisis.

  • opening hours: 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday
  • telephone: 0121 722 2142 and free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0028
  • webchat service: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm
  • email: solihull.admin@bswaid.org
  • website: bswaid.org

Solihull Council - Children Services

Childline

Provides free confidential advice and support for all young people up to 19 years old. Speak to them by phone, online or email 24 hours a day.

NSPCC

The NSPCC provides therapeutic services to help children move on from abuse, as well as supporting parents and families in caring for their children.

Kooth

Online emotional wellbeing and mental health support. professionals aim to provide early response to emotional wellbeing as well as emerging mental health needs via our online platform and counselling sessions.

Hideout

Hideout is a space for children and young people to understand domestic abuse and how to take positive action if it's happening to them.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) help

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid - information and advice

This service gives women information, advice, provides emotional support, safety planning, a risk assessment, onward referral to other services and can respond to someone in crisis.

  • opening hours: 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday
  • telephone: 0121 722 2142 and free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0028
  • webchat service: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm
  • email: solihull.admin@bswaid.org
  • website: bswaid.org

Birmingham LGBT

Offers an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) service that provides support to LGBT people in Birmingham and the wider areas, who are experiencing abuse from partners, ex-partners and family members. They also support LGBT people who are experiencing, or are at risk of honour based violence and forced marriage.

  • opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 9.00pm, Saturday from 11.30am to 7.00pm
  • telephone: 0121 643 0821
  • email: hello@blgbt.org
  • website: blgbt.org

Galop

An LGBT anti-abuse charity which provides a confidential and specialist telephone and Webchat service for all members of LGBT communities, their family, friends, and agencies supporting them, who have experienced issues with domestic violence and abuse.

  • opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, Wednesday to Thursday 10:00am from 8:00pm
  • telephone: 0800 999 5428
  • email: help@galop.org.uk
  • website: galop.org.uk

LGBT Foundation

The LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to LGBT communities. It has a domestic abuse service offers support to individuals who are currently at risk of or have previously experienced domestic abuse whether this is from a partner, ex-partner, or family member.

  • opening hours: 9.00am to 9.00pm weekdays (excluding bank holidays and religious festivals).
  • Telephone: 0345 330 3030
  • email: info@lgbt.foundation
  • website: LGBT Foundation

Elder abuse

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid - information and advice

This service gives women information, advice, provides emotional support, safety planning, a risk assessment, onward referral to other services and can respond to someone in crisis.

  • opening hours: 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday
  • telephone: 0121 722 2142 and free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0028
  • webchat service: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm
  • email: solihull.admin@bswaid.org
  • website: bswaid.org

Solihull Council

Get help from adult social care, protecting adults with care and support needs.

Hourglass

Offer confidential services which provide information and support to an older person, or anyone concerned about an older person who is at risk of, experiencing or recovering from any form of abuse or neglect.

General support

  • The Citizens Advice Bureau helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice
  • Community health services helps people find local health and wellbeing services
  • National centre for domestic violence, provides free, fast and effective support to survivors of domestic violence and abuse, usually by helping individuals obtain injunctions from their local county court
  • UK says no more helps people find a local Safe Space at a participating retailer, pharmacy, or bank where they can access one of their consultation rooms if they are experiencing domestic abuse

National Services

RSPCA Pet Retreat

This service may be able to arrange for foster carers to look after a person’s pets if they are fleeing domestic abuse.

Dogs Trust

The Dogs Trust Freedom Project is a specialist dog fostering service for people fleeing domestic abuse. The service enables people to get to safety, knowing their dog is safe and well cared for until they can be safely reunited.

Cats Protection

Paws Protect is a free, confidential cat fostering service for people fleeing domestic abuse.