If you are in immediate danger
Call the police on 999
If you cannot speak, press 55 when prompted and listen for instructions. You’ll be able to conduct your call in silence.
There are a number of agencies set up to help victim of domestic abuse, many detailed below. Some of these are specifically tailored to certain groups of people either by age, gender or ethnicity. There are also agencies who support the perpetrators to change their behaviours.
Further advice and guidance on services available in Kent can be found at the following websites:
https://www.kenthomechoice.org.uk/content/domestic-abuse-support
https://www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk/
https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/community-safety/advice-support-survivors-domestic-abuse
Domestic abuse one stop shop
This is run by Home Start and takes place every Thursday 12.30pm – 2.30pm at Folkestone Family Hub, Dover Road, CT20 1QF. Further information can be found here: https://homestartshepway.org.uk/domestic-abuse-one-stop-shop/.
The ultimate purpose of the One Stop Shop is to provide accessible support for anyone affected by domestic violence, with professionals from different organisations on hand to offer advice and guidance to those in attendance.
On arrival, service users will be greeted and triaged, to take brief details of what help and advice is required to be able to take them to the relevant representative. In cases where the service user may require advice from more than one organisation, we will try to sit together to offer the relevant advice as a group preventing information having to be repeated from table to table.
It may not be possible to offer immediate solutions but the face-to-face contact is key when it comes to such a sensitive subject. Further contact is discussed and agreed and if necessary, direct contact details are handed out.
Other support available
NCDV: Domestic Abuse and Violence Emergency Legal Protection. Free, fast, emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic abuse and violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation. Call: 0800 970 2070 or text NCDV to 60777. Email: office@ncdv.org.uk.
Home Start Shepway: Home Start Shepway promotes the welfare of families with young children and run the Enhanced Domestic Abuse Project to help women who have/or are experiencing Domestic Abuse. Call: 01303 244836.
Suzy Lamplugh Trust: National stalking helpline providing information, support and advice on risk, safety plans and legislation to victims of stalking, their friends, family and professionals working with victims. Call: 0808 802 0300 (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 09.30 – 16.00, Mondays & Wednesdays 09.30 – 20.00).
Rising Sun charity: Covering Folkestone, Ashford and Canterbury, Rising Sun provide specialist support with IDVAs and Outreach teams, at points of crisis, discussing options, offering impartial advice and being there every step of the way. They also run services for Children and Young People, a Counselling Service, and Phoenix and Own My Life programmes. Call: 01227 452852 Monday – Friday 9.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm to 4pm. Email: admin@risingsunkent.com.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: For those experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse, providing confidential, non-judgmental emotional support by trained female advisers. Call: 0808 2000 247 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Online webchat available here and BSL (British Sign Language) support available here.
Rape Crisis: For those who have experienced rape, sexual abuse or sexual assault, this organisation provides help, information and support from trained female support workers and information for partners, family and friends and other people who are supporting a survivor of sexual abuse. Call: 0808 500 222 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or online webchat available here.
Galop: The Galop National, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Domestic Abuse Helpline: support service for all members of the LGBT+ communities, their family and agencies supporting them who have experienced domestic abuse. Call: 0800 999 5428 (helpline open Mondays and Tuesdays 9.15am – 8pm and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9.15am – 4.30pm) or Email: help@galop.org.uk. Webchat also available via the website.
Karma Nirvana: Supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage and LGBT+ community members in fear of coming out. Call: 0800 5999 247 (Mondays to Fridays 9am – 5pm). Support available in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi. Online support also available here.
Southhall Black Sisters: Help and support for women or children experiencing domestic or sexual violence (including forced marriage, dowry abuse and honour crimes). Can offer support to those with no recourse to public funds. Multi-lingual support available. Casework in west London only. Call: 0208 571 0800 (open Mondays to Fridays 10am – 4pm). Email domestic abuse helpline here.
IKWRO: Supporting females from Middle Eastern, North African or Afghan Communities who are at risk of honour-based violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and violence. Call: 0207 920 6460 (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am – 5.30pm) or Email: info@ikwro.org.uk. For out-of-hours emergencies call: 07846 275246 (for support in Kurdish, Arabic or English) or 07846 310157 (for support in Farsi, Dari or English).
The Halo Project: Supporting victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and advice and support to victims and to work with partner agencies to provide interventions and ensure safety. Call: 01642 683 045 (Mondays to Fridays 9am – 5pm). Live chat available on the website, Mondays to Fridays 8am - 10am & 6pm – 9pm, and Saturdays & Sundays 10am – 2pm.
Children and Young Adults
If you think a child or young adult is in danger, call the police on 999. If it is not an emergency, you can phone Social Services (for Kent County Council) on 03000 41 11 11 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) or 03000 41 91 91 (for emergencies outside of these hours. Email: social.services@kent.gov.uk.
Kent Safeguarding children multi agency partnership online: www.kscmp.org.uk
Childline: Childline provides free confidential advice and support for all young people up to the age of 19 years. The number will not appear on any bill. Call 0800 1111 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or online webchat available here.
Support for men experiencing domestic abuse
The Men’s Advice Line: Providing support and advice for males who have or are experiencing abuse. Call 0808 8010327 Mondays – Fridays 10am – 5pm.
ManKind Initiative: Help for men experiencing domestic abuse. Confidential helpline available call: 0808 800 1170 (Mondays to Fridays 10am – 4pm).
Jonathan’s House: Trauma informed support for male survivors of domestic abuse. Call: 0800 52 44 202 for advice, online chat also available through the website.
Safeline: Providing services and counselling to men who have experienced rape and sexual abuse. Call National Male Survivor Helpline 0808 800 5005 (Mondays 9am – 7pm, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays 9am – 5pm, Fridays 9am – 4pm). Live chat also available here.
Survivors UK: Help and advice for men, boys and non-binary people aged 13+ years who have experienced sexual violence. Call: 020 3598 3898 or Email: help@survivorsuk.org. Online webchat also available via the website.
Support for perpetrators of domestic abuse
Respect: Help to stop you abusing your partner and change your behaviour. Call: 0808 802 4040 (Mondays to Fridays, 10am – 5pm).
Support for older people
Hourglass: Support for over 60’s concerned about harm, abuse or exploitation. This might include physical, financial, psychological, sexual abuse or neglect. Call: 0808 808 8141 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Webchat, email and text options available here.
Pets
Dogs Trust Freedom Project: A free and confidential dog fostering service for people escaping domestic abuse and going into refuge or other emergency accommodation where pets aren’t permitted. Dogs are cared for by volunteer foster carers until they can be reunited. Details on the relevant phone numbers for further information can be found here or you can Email: freedom@dogstrust.org.uk.
Cats Protection Lifeline: A free and confidential cat fostering service for people fleeing domestic abuse and going into refuge or other emergency accommodation. Cats are cared for by volunteer foster carers until they can be reunited. For further information including contact details via phone numbers and emails please click here.