Domestic Violence Support
Help for women
f you are suffering abuse from your partner or family you can get help. Everyone has the right to live free from violence and abuse and local help is available.
Women make up the majority of domestic violence victims and there are organisations dedicated to helping women who are being abused.
Useful phone numbers:
- Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 800 0340
- National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
- Domestic Violence Co-ordinator: 01636 655 664
Help for men
In September 2019, Equation launched their #SupportNotSilence campaign with the aim of helping men recognise signs of domestic abuse and get support from the local helpline: 0115 960 5556
Anyone can experience domestic abuse and everyone's experiences are different. Men can experience any form of domestic abuse from a person of any gender. However, according to local statistics, men are more likely to experience domestic abuse from other men and the types of abuse they experience are more often psychological and emotional. However, this does not mean men's experiences are any less valid.
Domestic abuse against men can include physical violence, as well as emotional and psychological bullying, sexual violence or financial control and abuse.
A man who is being abused may experience some or all of the following behaviours:
- bullying:mocking, humiliation, insults, criticism
- control: Being checked up on, followed, or stalked
- threats: intimidation, attacks or violence
- destruction of their possessions
- isolation: being stopped from seeing family and friends
- being forced into sex
- having money taken or controlled
- lying, blame and denial of abuse
These forms of abuse can cause significant harm and have long-lasting effects on mental health and well-being. Survivors can experience depression, anxiety, substance misuse problems and may complete self-harm or suicide.
More information is available on the Equation website.
Help for all Nottinghamshire Sexual Violence Support Service (Notts SVSS)
Notts Sexual Violence Support Service provides help for survivors of all genders ages 13+, help is independent, free and confidential. Their support helpline is 0115 941 0440.
Their phone line are open during the following times:
| Day | Opens | Closes | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10am | 1pm | 4.30pm | 7.30pm |
| Tuesday | 10am | 1pm | 4.30pm | 7.30pm |
| Wednesday | 10am | 1pm | 4.30pm | 7.30pm |
| Thursday | 10am | 1pm | 4.30pm | 7.30pm |
| Friday | 10am | 1pm | 4.30pm | 7.30pm |
| Saturday | 10am | 1pm | ||
| Sunday | 10am | 1pm |
You can speak to a female or male support worker. If the line is engaged please leave your name and number and someone will call you back. Please don’t hang up, help is available.
Survivor Support Service
The service helps those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Specialists work with survivors to improve their health and wellbeing through coping strategies, emotional support and help accessing a range of services such as health, housing, substances misuse and benefits.
Call the helpline or 0115 947 0064 option 2 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).
Domestic violence disclosure scheme
Something not quite right?
Have you ever, when being with people through doing your job, or even when with friends, thought there is something not quite right about a relationship they are in?
It might be just a feeling, or there might be other things that seem a bit odd. Does the person's partner call and text them all the time? Does it ever seem like they're checking up on her? Maybe she seems to make excuses about why she can't meet up, or get the sense that her partner is taking over her life.
Other things you may notice are that it seems like the person won't make a decision without checking with their partner first? Does she often seem worried about her partner's reaction?
Have you noticed her treading on eggshells to avoid rowing with her partner? Have you ever got the sense that she is afraid of them?
Even if you do notice and think about this, you have probably thought there is nothing you can do to help.
But there is.
It's called the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) and is also known as Clare's Law.
The scheme gives members of the public a formal way to make enquiries to the police about an individual they suspect may be abusing their partner. The alleged abuser will not find out that DVDS has been used or who has asked.
If police checks show that the individual has a record of violent offences, or there is other information to indicate the person you know is at risk, the police will consider sharing this information with the person(s) best placed to protect the potential victim.
That person may not be you, but you will have taken the action to protect the person you are worried about.
The scheme is designed to help potential victims to make an informed choice on whether to continue the relationship, and provides help and support when they are making that informed choice.
All you need to do is contact the police, say you wish to use the DVDS scheme, and provide the name of the person you think may be violent. Contact the police in the usual ways - call 101, pop into a police station, or approach an officer in the street.
Asking that question really could save someone's life.
More information available on the Nottinghamshire Police website.