Support for those Affected

If you have encountered domestic violence, rape, or sexual assault, our self-help resources are designed to offer you support.

Are you currently or have you previously experienced domestic violence, rape or sexual assault?

If you answered yes to the above or aren’t sure, and you live in Leicestershire or Rutland, we have an abundance of specialist services and resources to support you. If you live outside of the Leicestershire or Rutland area, please contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Call our Helpline

0808 802 0028

Calls are free from all mobiles, landlines and payphones and calls will be hidden on telephone bills.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 creates a statutory definition of domestic abuse:

“Domestic abuse” is defined as behaviour of a person towards another person that is abusive. The behaviour must occur between two people who are each aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other. The definition emphasises that domestic abuse is not just physical violence, but can also be emotional, coercive or controlling, and economic abuse.

For further information about domestic and sexual abuse, including the frequently asked questions, signs to look out for and how and where to find support, please read the detailed articles provided.

What is Domestic Abuse?

Not sure what domestic abuse is? In this article, we answer the frequently asked questions and give you signs to look out for in your relationship, as well as how and where to find support if you need it.

What is Sexual Abuse?

In this article, we provide clear and detailed insights into what constitutes as sexual abuse, as well as offering you a guide to recognising key signs and addressing common concerns.

Are you a professional looking to make a referral on behalf of someone else?

Specialist Support for Adults

Below are the services we provide to support adults who are currently or have previously experienced domestic violence, rape or sexual assult.

LGBTQ+ Support

We understand the unique challenges that members of the LGBTQ+ community often face, particularly around domestic/sexual abuse, accessing appropriate support and facing stigmas. When you get in touch with us, you will be offered a safe, inclusive space where you will be heard, respected, and understood as you navigate your journey to recovery. Visit our LGBTQ+ Support page for further information or call our helpline to get started on your journey to recovery.

Specialist BAME Support

Our dedicated BAME support team works alongside our accredited Helpline team to provide support. Our specialist workers will discuss all your options and will act as a point of contact to ensure your needs are met. Visit our Specialist BAME Support page for further information or call our helpline to get started on your journey to recovery.

Specialist Male Support

If you are male and are experiencing, or have experienced domestic abuse, sexual abuse, rape and/or trauma, we’re here to help. Our specialist workers will discuss all your support options and will act as a point of contact to ensure your support needs are met. Visit our Specialist Male Support page for further information or call our helpline to get started on your journey to recovery.

Support for Parents and Carers

Our specialised service, The YP Project can work with you as a parent/carer to give you the tools and support you need to de-escalate situations in a healthy way, and repair and reconnect with your child again. Using the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) approach, we focus on your self-care, prioritising behaviours, de-escalation and communication. Visit our Support for Parents and Carers page for further information or call our helpline to get started on your journey to recovery.

Sexual Violence Support

Our Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) are specially trained workers who are independent from the police and other statutory services. Our ISVAs offer practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused, including grooming, FGM and exploitation (CSE). Visit our Sexual Violence Support page for further information or call our helpline to get started on your journey to recovery.

Therapeutic Support

Our counselling sessions consist of 6-12 weeks of support, in which we provide an action plan, a positive environment for healing and recovery, and any necessary onward referrals. You’ll complete our counselling sessions with the skills to feel empowered to make independent life choices and any further information you may need going forward. Visit our Therapeutic Support page for further information or call our helpline to get started on your journey to recovery.

Specialist Support for Children and Young People

These are the services we provide to support children and young people who are currently or have previously experienced domestic violence, rape or sexual assult.

Support for Children and Young People

If someone has hurt you, or you’ve been forced to do things that made you feel uncomfortable at any point in your life, we understand how you might be feeling and can offer you support from one of our specialist Children’s Independent Sexual Violence workers (CHISVAs). Independent from the police and social services, our CHISVAs can listen to you, support you and answer any questions that you or your family might have. Visit our Support for Children and Young People page for further information or call our helpline to get started on your journey to recovery.

Therapeutic Support

Looking for support? Call our helpline today.

Latest Self Help Tools

If you have encountered domestic violence, rape, or sexual assault, and you’re not quite ready to reach out to us yet, our self-help resources are designed to offer you support.

Building Healthy Relationships

We know building healthy relationships after abuse can be a challenge, so we’ve put together a guide to help empower you to foster safe and supportive connections.

Managing Your Feelings and Emotions After Abuse

We’ve put together a guide full of practical things you can do to help you process your feelings, and reclaim your emotional wellbeing during your recovery.

Self-Care Tips

The trauma of experiencing domestic abuse can make self-care feel challenging. Self-care can come in many different forms, including physical and emotional. We've put together some practical tips for practicing self-care in your everyday life.

Long-Term Self-Help Tips

A big part of healing and your journey to recovery is having longer term plans in place, whether it’s rebuilding your personal boundaries, or growing your own support network.

Read our latest blog articles for further information.

Real Life Stories

Feeling nervous about taking those first steps and reaching out to us? We understand how you might be feeling, so we’ve provided you with some case stories below of the real life people we’ve supported through our services and how we’ve made a real imapct to them and their families.