Get Help for Domestic Abuse in Scotland
If you or someone you care about is affected by domestic abuse in Scotland, you’re not alone. Support, guidance, and resources are available to help you.
Support through Women’s Aid Local Services in Scotland
Women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse and those who support them can get help through Women’s Aid in Scotland.
Our network of 30+ specialist local Women’s Aid services across Scotland offers free and confidential expert, direct support to women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Their wide range of services can include:
- Temporary refuge accommodation
- 1:1 support and counselling
- Tailored safety plans addressing immediate risk, housing, emotional and practical care
- Court support and advocacy
- Support for children and young people
- Information on a wide range of issues affecting you, such as housing, your legal rights and welfare, and help with filling in forms
- Therapeutic services and recovery programmes
Support through Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline offers 24/7 confidential support and is available to anyone affected by domestic abuse across Scotland. The helpline team are trained specialists and will always listen to you and believe you, without judgement.
Worried about someone you know?
If you are worried about someone affected by domestic abuse, contact Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline for emotional and practical support.
Other Support
If you or someone you know is being abused, it can be difficult to know where to turn. There are lots of organisations in Scotland that offer support to people experiencing domestic abuse.
Legal Advice and Your Rights
- The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre offers free legal information and support to all women, including those with no recourse to public funds.
- Citizens Advice Bureaus will be able to provide information and help you to understand what your rights are in lots of areas, including housing, social security and immigration.
- The Ethnic Minorities Law Centre (EMLC) specialise in immigration and asylum and provides legal advice and representation to individuals from Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities.
- The Scottish Child Law Centre is a specialist hub advising all ages of children and across all areas of child-related Scots law.
- Clan Childlaw is a charity in Scotland which provides free, independent legal representation exclusively for children and young people, which is child-centred by design.
Immigration and Asylum
- Scottish Women’s Rights Centre can help with legal advice and free information guides.
- Shakti Women’s Aid offers temporary refuge accommodation and help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse.
- Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid offers temporary refuge accommodation and support for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse.
Housing and Finances
- Citizens Advice Bureaus will be able to provide information and help you to understand what your rights are in lots of areas, including housing, social security and immigration.
- Shelter Scotland – get urgent housing advice and signposting.
Stalking
- Action Against Stalking provides emotional and practical support.
- National Stalking Helpline provides support for those experiencing stalking or harassment.
Children and Young People
- ChildLine support anyone under the age of 19, including support about domestic abuse.
- Children 1st – Supports children and offers a helpline for families, and has services in 17 local authority areas.
- Clan Childlaw is a charity in Scotland which provides free, independent legal representation exclusively for children and young people, which is child-centred by design.
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Children and Families Affected by Domestic Abuse (CAFADA)Children and young people who live with domestic abuse are at risk of a range of negative mental health, educational and social outcomes. There is a lack of evidence on how to improve their outcomes and what works. This website shares findings from their research project, with sections on court advocacy, extensive resources on children and young people’s participation, child protection, recovery interventions, criminal justice responses and innovative practice in DA services for children and families.
LGBT+
- Women’s Aid services provide support to women in same-sex relationships. Local services can offer practical and emotional support to you and your children.
- FearFree offers non-judgmental, one-to-one support for LGBT+ men experiencing domestic abuse. They have support services in Edinburgh and the Lothians, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
- LGBT Health and Wellbeing also provides mental health support and has a dedicated helpline.
- The LGBT Domestic Abuse Project has advice and information available specifically for LGBT survivors of domestic abuse, and information on seeking support or reporting.
- Galop are the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. They have a National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline available on 0800 999 5428 , or you can visit their website for more advice and information.
Disabled People
- Disability Information Scotland provides a range of general disability related information to disabled people. The helpline can deal with issues including benefit enquiries, employment, discrimination cases, equipment, grants and trusts, access, holiday information, and signposting to local sources of help and advice.
Men Experiencing Abuse
- Men experiencing domestic abuse can contact Respect: Men’s Advice Line, a dedicated organisation for men affected by domestic abuse.
- FearFree offers non-judgmental, one-to-one support for men experiencing domestic abuse. They have support services in Edinburgh and the Lothians, Glasgow, and Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Other Support Organisations
- Victim Support Scotland provides support, practical assistance, and information to victims and witnesses of crime in Scotland. Their service is free and confidential, and they have an office in every local authority area.
- Rape Crisis Scotland – the network of Rape Crisis Centres across Scotland provides free and confidential advocacy, advice and support to survivors and others affected by rape and sexual violence, in addition to running a dedicated Helpline offering crisis and initial support.
Help you identify domestic abuse
See the What is domestic abuse? page »
Understand Your Rights »
See Planning for Safety via Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline »