Domestic abuse - get help
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, help and support is available, regardless of age, gender and sexuality.
If you are in immediate danger please call 999.
Get help
We understand that the first call for help is a big step.
We work with Harbour Support - a specialist domestic abuse service that helps people living in County Durham. Harbour offer support to both victims of domestic abuse and perpetrators of abuse and work with anyone affected by domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, sexuality. Your contact will be dealt with confidentially and sensitively, you do not have to face your problems alone.
- 03000 202 525 (this is a 24 hour, seven days a week support and advice line)
- info@myharbour.org.uk
- live chat on the Harbour Support website
You could also go to your GP, health visitor, social worker, child's school, housing officer or the police who can get advice on your behalf.
Your housing options
We provide support and advice to anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, as a result of domestic abuse and will advise you on the accommodation options available to you.
Get help to avoid becoming homeless
Women's refuge
If you are a woman and need to leave your home, women's refuges are available.
Forced marriage and 'honour-based' violence
You have the right to choose. If you or someone you know is being forced into a marriage or is a victim of honour-based violence, contact Halo Project, a national project that will support victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and female genital mutilation (FGM) by providing appropriate advice and support.
Halo project: forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence Charity Telephone - 01642 683 045 or 08081 788 424 (free phone).
Male victims
It can be more difficult for a man to seek support for a number of reasons, and the perception of men needing to be 'strong' does not help. For anyone to live with abuse and violence, regardless of their gender, takes incredible strength.
LGBTQ+ support
Durham Pride provide fully qualified volunteers who can help you if you've been a victim of same sex domestic and/or sexual violence and abuse, hate crime or bullying at anytime in your life. Free support and advice is available to over 18's.
Elder Abuse
Hourglass (previously known as Action on Elder Abuse) offers a helpline, and confidential support and advice to older people, professionals or anyone concerned about an older person who is at risk of, experiencing or recovering from any form of abuse or neglect.
Family support
If you do not think you are a victim of domestic abuse but are concerned about conflict/arguments in your relationship (whether you are together or separated) and the impact this may have on your child, the Relationships Matter programme can give you free support and space to talk.
Child adolescent to parent violence and abuse - CAPVA
CAPVA is a form of family abuse where children/adolescents use a range of harmful behaviours towards parents/caregivers this can include but is not limited to, physical violence, verbal abuse, behaviours that are emotionally and/or psychologically abusive, and those which damage property and/or hurt parents financially.
Friendly, professional and non-judgemental support is available here in Durham to support you and your family.
Contact - First Contact on 03000 267 979.
Ask for Action Needed Immediately (ANI)
The government has launched the Gov.uk: Ask for ANI codeword scheme to help victims of domestic abuse access immediate help from the police and other support services from the safety of their local pharmacy.
