Violence and emotional abuse
Alternatives to Violence Project – AVP is for everyone who wants to handle conflict, deal with strong feelings like anger and fear, and build better relationships. They run friendly, low-cost workshops/courses that can really make a difference.
Anti-Bullying Collective -provides advocacy, support and guidance to individuals, schools, workplaces and community settings affected by bullying.
Dare2Care – a campaign that aims to ensure every child is safe from abuse and that the normalisation of violence in young people’s relationships is challenged.
Domestic Abuse Org – offering information and support to victims of domestic abuse.
Freedom Programme – primarily designed for women as victims of domestic violence, since research shows that in the vast majority of cases of serious abuse are male on female. However, the programme, when provided as an intensive two day course, is also suitable for men, whether abusive and wishing to change their attitudes and behaviour or whether victims of domestic abuse themselves. The Freedom Programme examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions of abusive men and the responses of victims and survivors. The aim is to help them to make sense of and understand what has happened to them, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess. The Freedom Programme also describes in detail how children are affected by being exposed to this kind of abuse and very importantly how their lives are improved when the abuse is removed. There is also a blog.
Government Advice about reporting abuse
Hidden Hurt – information about domestic abuse, including emotional abuse.
The Hide Out – to help children understand domestic violence and how to get help.
IDAS -a charity that provides comprehensive support services to all those experiencing or affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Services include refuge accommodation, outreach support and access to a free, confidential helpline. They employ a team of accredited specialist workers to support people who need support through the criminal justice system.
Justice for Women – a feminist campaigning organisation that supports and advocates on behalf of women who have fought back against or killed violent male partners.
Know Violence in Childhood -A global learning initiative which is based on the premise that a more comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of violence in childhood, and the means of prevention, can help shift global attitudes and enable children and adults to lead more secure and peaceful lives.
NAPAC – National association for people abused in childhood.
National Centre for Domestic Violence – NCDV provides a free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation. Their service allows anyone to apply for an injunction within 24 hours of first contact (in most circumstances). Works in close partnership with the police, local firms of solicitors and other support agencies (Refuge, Women’s Aid etc) to help survivors obtain speedy protection.
Mens Advice Line – advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Call 0808 801 0327.
Refuge – domestic violence charity who in 1971 opened the first ‘safe house’ for women and children escaping domestic violence.
Respect – offers confidential and anonymous helpline for anyone concerned about their abuse/or violence towards a partner or ex partner.
Rights of women – founded in 1975, this is a voluntary organisation committed to informing, educating and empowering women concerning their legal rights. Call the family law advice line, for advice on issues including domestic violence and abuse.
Professor Iwaniec – was Emeritus Professor of Social Work and former Director of the Institute of Child Care Research at Queen’s University Belfast (she retired in 2005). She is well-known for her extensive research, practice and writing in the areas of emotional abuse and neglect and failure to thrive in children.
Women’s Aid – the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. Call the National Domestic Violence helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Sexual abuse
Enough abuse – an American site, offering a guide for parents about straight talk with children about the dangers of sexual abuse and how to keep them safe.
PACE – parents against child sexual exploitation. PACE works alongside parents and carers of children who are – or are at risk of being – sexually exploited by perpetrators external to the family.
Parents protect – aims to raise awareness about child sexual abuse, answer questions and give adults the information, advice, support and facts, they need to help protect children.
NAPAC – the National Association for people abused in childhood, charity providing support and information.
Stop it now – child sexual abuse prevention campaign, free confidential helpline 0808 1000 900.
This tangled web – a website and charity founded by an adult survivor of child sexual abuse.
Other useful links – Applying for legal aid
For guidance issued in April 2015 on how to apply for legal aid in cases involving violence, see this useful summary from Family Law Week. Also see guidance about legal aid on the GOV.UK site.
Courses at Virtual College on safeguarding
Protecting children from child sexual exploitation (free)
Awareness of Forced Marriage (free)
Learning from Serious Case Reviews
Recognising and Preventing FGM (free)
Why is there no advice for men falsley accused of abuse and rape (case now closed) trying to see their children
Because this was written for women who remain the majority of victims of violence at the hands of men.
False accusations are wrong who ever makes them. But this post remains relevant whether or not it discusses an entirely different subset of wrongness.
Women’ Aid has lied about statistics and facts and twisted reality. I’m sorry, but you don’t need to lie when less than 50 to 60% of domestic violence victims are female. Just do your job and be done. Don’t attack the 40 to over 50% of male domestic violence victims just so you can give your thing pity.