• Refuge - Warrington Independent Domestic Violence Abuse (IDVA) service - advice, emotional and practical support for women, men and young people. Call 01925 243359
• Warrington Women's Aid Refuge - safe accommodation for women and children, and support and advice to men experiencing domestic abuse. Call 01925 417138
• Cheshire Police - 101 (non-emergency)
• Warrington Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre - support, advocacy, counselling and information for those affected by rape, sexual assault or abuse. Call 01925 221546 or view support information [PDF]
• Housing Advice - independent housing advice and services including a sanctuary scheme. Email housingadvice@warrington.gov.uk or call 01925 246868 (out of hours: 01925 444400)
• Cheshire CARES (Cope and Recovery Enhanced Service) - local support for victims of crime, even if you don’t want to report the crime to the police. Call 01606 366336
• DV Assist – can help you to get Non-Molestation Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders and Occupation Orders. Call 0800 195 8699
• The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Cheshire and Merseyside) is a charity that provides free confidential, specialist support, a counselling service for those affected by rape, sexual assault and/or abuse

• The 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline
• The Men's Advice Line - a national charity dedicated to helping and supporting male victims of domestic abuse
• Galop – national helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual victims
• Karma Nirvana - supporting victims of honour-based abuse including forced marriage
• FCO Forced Marriage Unit - a government helpline dedicated to supporting British Nationals overseas and in the UK who are affected by or at risk of a forced marriage. Call 020 7008 0151 (or 0044 20 7008 0151 if you are overseas)
• NSPCC FGM helpline - if you're worried a child is at risk of or has already had FGM, call the free, anonymous dedicated FGM helpline on 0800 028 3550 or email fgm.help@nspcc.org.uk

• National Stalking Helpline - for victims of stalking, their friends, family and professionals. Call the helpline 0808 802 0300 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am-4pm, Wednesday 1pm-4pm) stalking helpline enquiry form 

• Southall Black Sisters - advocacy and information for Asian and Afro-Caribbean women suffering abuse

• Muslim Women’s Network Helpline - national specialist faith and culturally sensitive helpline that is confidential. Call 0800 999 5786, text 07415 206 936 or email info@mwnhelpline.co.uk

Find out about a partner's past - Clare's Law

• If you're worried about your partner or ex-partner's behaviour, you can find out if they've a criminal history of violence or abuse in their previous relationships. You can also request this information about the partner of a close friend or family member, if you're concerned about them

If you’re a man in an abusive relationship, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Abuse of men happens far more often than you might expect - in both heterosexual and same sex relationships.

Figures suggest that as many as 1 in 6 victims of domestic abuse are male. However, men are often reluctant to report abuse because they feel embarrassed, fear they won’t be believed, or are scared that their partner will take revenge.

If you are a man experiencing domestic violence and you need emergency help you can call the police on 999.

Men have exactly the same rights as women to be safe in their own homes. All statutory services (the police, Crown Prosecution Service, housing departments and social services) have a duty to provide services to all, whatever their gender. Men are protected by exactly the same laws as women, anyone who has assaulted another person, regardless of the gender of either, can be prosecuted.

Admitting the problem and seeking help doesn’t mean you have failed as a man or as a husband. You are not to blame, and you are not weak.

There are several specialist agencies that can provide you with the help and support  during this difficult time.

Emergency Housing

While there are very few refuge, safe houses or supported housing facilities available in the UK for male victims, local authorities have a duty to ensure domestic abuse victims (and children) are able to access emergency housing. Warrington Homeless and Advice Service - 01925 444400

Support and advice

• Refuge - Warrington Independent Domestic Violence Abuse (IDVA) service - advice, emotional and practical support for women, men and young people. Call 01925 243359

• Survivors UK: for adult male survivors of rape or sexual assault. Text 020 3322 1860 or email info@survivorsuk.org
• Men’s Advice Line: for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Call the helpline 0808 801 0327 or email info@mensadviceline.org.uk
• ManKind: the ManKind initiative operates a confidential helpline for men who experience violence from their partners or ex-partners. Call the helpline 01823 334244

• Galop – national helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual victim

Children are affected by domestic abuse both in the short and long term, whether they are abused themselves or if they’ve seen it happen, or think it’s happening, to someone else in the family.

• The Hideout – to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action
• Refuge - Warrington Independent Domestic Violence Abuse (IDVA) service - advice, emotional and practical support for women, men and young people. Call 01925 243359

• The Children’s Society – guidance for young people on both domestic abuse and teen relationship abuse

• The NSPCC has issued guidance for spotting and reporting the signs of abuse in children and adults.

Report that a child or young person is being, or is at risk of being abused

• Karma Nirvana Honour Network Helpline - support for victims and survivors of forced marriage and honour based abuse. Call 0800 5999 247

Some adults may be more at risk and less able to protect themselves from harm or abuse. This might be because they’re older, or have a disability, an addiction or a physical or mental illness.

If you feel a vulnerable adult is unable to make decisions for themselves and is likely to remain at risk of abuse, or you yourself are being abused, you should call the Adult Social Care First Response Team on 01925 443322. Or you can call the police on 101, or outside of office hours call 01925 652222.

• Warrington Adult Safeguarding Board

• Hourglass - confidential helpline for anyone concerned about abuse of an older person. Call 0808 808 8141

• SignHealth - domestic abuse support for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL). Call 020 3947 2601, text, WhatsApp, Facetime 07970 350366, or email da@signhealth.org.uk

  
   

If you believe to be at risk of domestic abuse, there are many agencies that can support you in different ways. You can access help and support from the police, national Domestic Abuse Helplines and specialist local services. You can access support via the phone, online via email support and webchat or video call.   

If you are experiencing domestic abuse you are able to leave your home to a place of safety during stricter lockdown measures #youarenotalone

• For non-emergency police assistance, dial 101 ask for Cheshire Police Switchboard (24-hour service). Or visit the Cheshire police website - open the door

• Consider where you could go in an emergency: accessing emergency accommodation contact Warrington women’s Aid or Warrington Refuge IDVA service
• Rail to Refuge scheme - if you're a woman fleeing domestic abuse, you may be able to get a FREE train ticket which you can use to travel to refuge accommodation
• Family and friends support - informal networks: consider confiding in family and friends and neighbours for support. Establish code words on which they should call police assistance
• Safe Spaces, Boots UK, Superdrug and Morrison’s pharmacies across the country are offering their private consulting rooms for victims of domestic abuse to access phone support from specialist agencies. To find your nearest pharmacy offering a safe space, visit the UK Says No More website

• Job Centres are a safe spaces and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) supports victims of domestic abuse. This includes helping you access temporary accommodation and supporting you to make new applications for Universal Credit and putting you in touch with local experts and support networks. The DWP has published up-to-date coronavirus-related welfare benefits information.

• Major banks are also providing a safe space to access support and practical assistance to victims

• Support from your employer: if your workplace has been a place of safety from the abuse you experience at home, make arrangements with your employer about ways of keeping in touch for to maintain that safety net. Your employer may have a specific domestic abuse policy so it may be useful see what support your employer can provide
• Cover your tracks online. Women’s Aid has created a guide about how to cover your tracks online

Find out about a partner's past - Clare's Law

• If you're worried about your partner or ex-partner's behaviour, you can find out if they've a criminal history of violence or abuse in their previous relationships. You can also request this information about the partner of a close friend or family member, if you're concerned about them

• The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Cheshire and Merseyside) is a charity that provides free confidential, specialist support, a counselling service for those affected by rape, sexual assault and/or abuse
• Survivors UK For adult male survivors of rape or sexual assault. Text 020 3322 1860 or email info@survivorsuk.org

We’re supporting the Home Office campaign ‘Disrespect NoBody’, which encourages young people to know the signs of an unhealthy relationship and to prevent both boys and girls, aged 12 to 18 years old, from becoming victims of abusive relationships or from harming others.

The Disrespect NoBody campaign helps young people to:

• Understand what a healthy relationship is
• Re-think their views of controlling behaviour, violence, abuse and sexual abuse
• Understand what consent means within their relationships

• NSPCC FGM helpline – if you’re worried that a child is at risk of, or has had, female genital mutilation. Call 0800 028 3550

Online support is more crucial than ever before. Below are some online services you can use to report the abuse and access support.

• Bright Sky - app which provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know. The app is available in several languages including English, Urdu, Punjabi and Polish
• Chayn - provides online tools, information, courses and support for people experiencing abuse. Their DIY online safety guide details how to secure devices or clear browsing history after you've accessed a website
• The Survivors' Forum - an online resource for survivors of domestic abuse. It aims to be a place where survivors can support each other and share their experiences
• Women's Aid -  national charity supporting women impacted by domestic abuse is currently offering an online chat service
• Respect Phoneline is a national, confidential and anonymous helpline for anyone concerned about their violence or abuse towards a partner or ex-partner. A team of skilled professionals can offer advice, information and support to help you stop being violent and abusive to your partner. Respect is also currently offering a web chat service

Child on Parent Violence (CPV) or Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (APVA) is any behaviour used by a young person to control, dominate or coerce parents.

It is intended to threaten and intimidate and puts family safety at risk. Those who experience CPV/ APVA often suffer a great deal before seeking support. Those impacted, express feeling isolated, failing as a parent, and shame and stigma of having an abusive child. 

Over the last three years the number of reported crimes involving children attacking parents has doubled and during coronavirus lockdowns there has been a 70% rise in incidents.

• Family Lives - confidential helpline and web chat, offers live online chat, email support or a confidential helpline, for parents experiencing any form of stress or difficulty in their lives. (During the night, calls are redirected to the Samaritans helpline)
• Who is in charge (WIC) - have produced a self- help booklet for parents experiencing child to parent violence and abuse

The national charity Safelives has developed the campaign #Reachin during lockdown which provides ways in which informal networks can support someone experiencing domestic abuse.

It provides tips on staying in touch and being that lifeline during the Covid-19. If you are worried about the safety of your loved ones/neighbour then make the call of help to the police as they are unable to.

One in five UK adults has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner. Over a third didn’t tell anyone at the time. Those who did were most likely to confide in family and friends. Spotting the signs of economic abuse for family and friends: