Other support
As well as helping people using harmful behaviours to stop, we want to support and empower everyone around those using harmful behaviours to see themselves as part of the solution, and to work together to address the problem.
Are you concerned about the behaviour of someone you know?
It can be difficult if you suspect that someone you know is hurting, scaring or trying to control their partner or ex-partner.
If you are a friend or family member of someone you’re concerned about who lives in Tyne, Wear or the Northumberland area, please see the Sunderland page for a service that may be relevant to you.
If you are a friend or family member of someone you’re concerned about who lives in Newcastle or Durham, please see our Newcastle or Durham pages to get in touch with your local Make a Change service.
Or, if you are a friend or family member of someone you’re concerned about who lives in Coventry, please see our Coventry page to get in touch with the team there.
They will help you think about what might be safe and appropriate.
National support services
If you’re outside of the areas Make a Change is in, you can contact the Respect Phoneline for support and advice.
It’s a free and confidential helpline for people using harmful and abusive behaviour, as well as their friends, family and the professionals working with them.
Call free on 0808 802 4040 Monday-Friday (10am-5pm), or visit their website. Webchat is available Monday-Friday (9-10am).
They also have advice specifically for friends and family members.
Support for people experiencing harmful behaviour
You might know both the person using harmful behaviour and the person experiencing harmful behaviours.
There are lots of organisations who offer support to people being affected by the harmful behaviour of a loved one, as well as services like ours who help people using harmful behaviour to change.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: Run by the charity Refuge, the helpline offers free support and advice for victims of abuse, open 24 hours a day. Call 0808 2000 247 or visit nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Men’s Advice Line: A helpline for male victims of domestic abuse. Call 0808 801 3127 or visit mensadviceline.org.uk
Women’s Aid: You can use the Women’s Aid website to find the local service nearest you at womensaid.org.uk/womens-aid-directory, or start a webchat for direct support at chat.womensaid.org.uk
Other national support services
Rape Crisis: A free phone and online chat service for anyone over 16 in England and Wales who has been affected by any form of sexual violence. Call 0808 500 2222 or visit rapecrisis.org.uk
Galop: Supports LGBT+ people who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime. Call 0800 999 5428 or visit galop.org.uk
Honour Based Abuse Helpline: Run by the charity Karma Nirvana, the helpline offers support to victims of honour-based abuse, including child marriage, virginity testing, enforced abortion and forced marriage. Call 0800 5999 247 or visit karmanirvana.org.uk
If you think someone is at risk of immediate harm, you should call 999 for emergency services.
