COVID-19 and support
COVID-19: Support available for women experiencing abuse
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We know that the coronavirus outbreak paired with current social distancing and self-isolation measures can be particularly stressful and challenging for women experiencing abuse.
If you are in this situation, we want to reassure you that you are not alone.
Many organisations, centres and groups are adjusting their services to offer helplines and remote support for those in need.
Below we have compiled a list of services and helplines available with current opening times. We’ll continue to add and review the information as we hear more.
Last updated: 12 May 2020
Domestic abuse, forced marriage and stalking
- Domestic Abuse and Forced
Marriage helpline
Open 24/7
Call: 0800 027 1234
Email: helpline@sdafmh.org.uk
Web chat: sdafmh.org.uk
- Local Women's Aid groups
Find your local women’s aid group
- National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
Monday to Friday, 10am - 5pm and Wednesday to Thursday, 10am - 8pm.
Call: 0800 999 5428
Email: help@galop.org.uk
- Economic abuse
Surviving Economic Abuse have created a useful guide to help you spot and find safety during the coronavirus outbreak.
- National Stalking Helpline
Open daily 9:30am - 4pm except Wednesday, 1pm - 4pm
Call: 0808 802 0300
- FollowIt App - for victims/survivors of stalking
You can download
this app to record incidents of stalking.
- ASSIST (covers most of the Central West of Scotland)
This service supports victims of domestic abuse throughout their involvement with the criminal justice system. It is available for women located in most of Scotland's Central West area - you can see a list of locations covered here.
Call: 0141 276 7710 and leave a message
More information: click here for full details.
Rape and sexual violence
- Rape Crisis Scotland
Available for survivors of all forms of sexual violence.
Open daily, 6 pm - midnight
Call: 08088
01 03 02
Text: 07537
410027
Email: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
- Local Rape Crisis centres
Find your local rape crisis centre. Some of them also have a helpline open outside the National Rape Crisis Helpline hours.
- Trauma
Counselling Line Scotland
A helpline for people who experienced childhood abuse.
Open Monday to Wednesday, 2pm - 6pm and Friday, 9am - 3pm.
Call: 08088 02 04 06
Information: visit the website here.
Services for Black and Ethnic Minority women
- Shakti Women’s Aid
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Call: 0131 475 2399
Email: info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk
- AMINA – Muslim Women Resource
Centre helpline
Open Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm.
Call: 0808 801 0301
- Hemat Gryffe
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Call: 07792 017442 or 07866 936644
Sexual harassment and online abuse
- Sexual harassment legal helpline
Open Thursdays, 5 - 8pm.
Call: 08088 010 789
- Revenge Porn helpline
Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm by email only.
Email: help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk
- Click - support for women selling sex online
Click offers a range of support services, including for wellbeing and safety.
Online chat: www.click.scot/chat (open Mon, Tues, Thurs and Frid, 11am - 1pm)
Helpline: 0300 124 5564 (open Tue 3 - 5pm, Wed 11am - 7pm, Thurs 6 - 9pm, Sat 12 - 2pm).
- The Cyber Helpline
Access their range of guides to help you when your online security has been compromised.
- Report
Harmful Content
This organisation can support you in reporting harmful online content across different social media platforms.
- Voices of Internet Crime
This site has instructions on removing your images from Google and other websites.
Female genital mutilation ('cutting')
Human trafficking and exploitation
- Modern slavery helpline
Call: 08000 121 700
Legal advice, practical information and victim support
- Scottish Women’s Rights Centre
Helplines - 08088 010 789
Legal information
Monday 2
- 5 pm
Tuesday 6
- 8 pm
Wednesday 11 am - 2 pm
Friday 10
am - 1 pm
Advocacy support
Tuesday 11
am - 2 pm
Sexual harassment
Thursday 5
- 8 pm
Online contact form: if calling our helpline isn't safe for you, use our online contact form.
Surgeries: make an appointment to get specific legal advice. These surgeries will take place by video call or telephone. You can also request an urgent legal appointment by calling our helpline.
Legal representation: we are taking on cases. You can apply for legal representation here.
- Victim Support Scotland helpline
Open Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.
Call: 0800 160 1985
- Action on Elder Abuse helpline
Open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Call: 0808 808 8141
Housing, immigration, benefits, and other general support
- Housing
Shelter Scotland
Call: 0808
800 4444 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
Chat: you can
contact them through online chat here.
Information:
get information on coronavirus and housing issues here.
Positive action in housing
Call: 0141 353 2220
More info: www.paih.org
- Benefits, money and general advice
Citizens Advice Scotland
Find answers to frequent questions on a range of topics and COVID-19/coronavirus.
- Immigration
Scottish Refugee Council
Open Monday to Friday 10am - 1pm; 2 - 4pm, and Wednesdays 2 - 4pm only.
Helpline: 0141 223 7979
Information: read the changes to the asylum process and resettlement
here.
- Mental health
Breathing Space helpline
Open Monday to Thursday, 6pm - 2am and Friday, 6pm - Mon 6am.
Call: 0800 83 85 87
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