Domestic abuse
Domestic Abuse
In this section, you can find information about where to get help and advice around domestic abuse. You may be thinking that this is happening to you, or perhaps to a member of your family. Or you may be worried that this is happening to someone else in your wider family circle.
What is domestic abuse?
This is any kind of abusive behaviour that happens between people in a relationship. It can involve threatening, controlling, frightening, bullying or violent behaviour. It may also be physically, emotionally, sexually or financially abusive behaviour.
If you or someone you know is suffering from physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse, or are being threatened, intimidated or stalked by a current or previous partner or close family member, it’s likely that you’re a victim of domestic abuse.
Just one incident counts as abuse.
Domestic abuse can affect anyone regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, sexuality or social background.
The victim of domestic abuse is not to blame for what's happening. The important thing to remember is you, or the people you are worried about, are not alone and there is lots of help, support and advice available.
Local and national links are shown below. Many of these will show how you can get in touch if you need to talk to someone.
Remember that you can also call into one of the Community Lounges or Family Hubs who will try to help you or put you in touch with the right organisation. You can find out where these are by clicking the links below.
Community Lounges Community Lounge (stoke.gov.uk)
Family Hubs Family Hubs | Family Hubs | Stoke-on-Trent
Links to local organisations in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire
New Era provide help for victims and perpetrators in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Click here: New Era
Glow (part of the Honeycombe Group) provide support for victims and families of domestic abuse. Find out more here: Glow Domestic Abuse Service
Reporting, support and how to make an application under Clare's law Advice about domestic abuse | Staffordshire Police
Community Directory
Don't forget you can search for Organisations which can provide support around domestic abuse from the local community directory.
Links to national websites
Find links to helplines and sources of support in this section.
Campaign to end harassment and violence against women White Ribbon Day and Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse
Refuge is a large domestic abuse organisation for women and children, which runs a 24-hour national helpline. Find out more here: Refuge and National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Women’s Aid is a national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. Find out more here: Women’s Aid Domestic Violence Helpline
For information on legal support service to help protect women against domestic abuse, click here: FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors)
The Sharan Project provides support to vulnerable women, particularly of South Asian origin, who have been disowned. Click here for more information: Sharan Project
Sistah Space provides support to women and girls, particularly of African and Caribbean origin, who are affected by domestic abuse: Sistah Space
National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247 24 hours
National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0800 999 5428 help@galop.org.uk see website for opening hours - trans specific service and online chat available
Toolkit
The legal definition of domestic abuse is: any incident of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are 'personally connected', regardless of their gender or sexuality.
Domestic abuse can be, but isn't limited to:
- physical
- emotional
- psychological
- sexual
- financial
Examples of people who are ‘personally connected’ include:
- relatives, including half and step relatives
- married couples, or couples who used to be married
- civil partners, or former civil partners
- people who have ever agreed to marry, or enter into a civil partnership agreement with each other
- people who have had an intimate relationship with each other
- people who are a parent of the same child, or have ever had a parental responsibility for the same child
Domestic abuse also includes honour-based abuse and forced marriage.
The Crown Prosecution Service website has a breakdown of types of domestic abuse, click here to find out more: types of domestic abuse.
Risk Identification and Assessment tools and information can be found here: DASH, risk identification, MARAC
Safe Lives Knowledge Hub provides resources, including for young people, older people, LGBTQIA+ etc.
Domestic Abuse Bill 2020 Factsheets includes updates on cross-examination, polygraph tests, safe accommodation, consent to harm, threats to disclose private sexual photographs and strangulation/suffocation
Courses for victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse: New Era – New Era is the new holistic Domestic Abuse (new-era.uk)
Freedom Programme online - courses for women and men who want to improve their behaviour
The Day programme - comprehensive multi-media education tool that equips young people to recognise domestic abuse and exploitation and critique popular culture