Domestic abuse

Anyone can be affected by domestic abuse, regardless of socio-economic background, race, faith, sexuality and gender. Domestic abuse includes when a partner or other family member:

• Forces you to take out debt in your name
• Is jealous and possessive
• Threatens to share intimate pictures of you
• Controls or isolates you, for example, by stopping you from seeing friends or family
• Threatens you
• Puts you down or tries to undermine your self-esteem
• Shoves or pushes you
• Makes you fear for your safety
• Frightens you

Research suggests that people experiencing domestic abuse are more likely to experience a mental health problem, while women with mental health problems are more likely to be domestically abused, with 30-60% of women with a mental health problem have experienced domestic violence.

Domestic violence is associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance abuse in the general population.

Exposure to domestic violence has a significant impact on children's mental health. Many studies have found strong links with poorer educational outcomes and higher levels of mental health problems.

You or the person who is being abused can ring:

Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 

At Sage, we are committed to doing all we can to help individuals experiencing such abuse.​

If you make a report of domestic abuse to us, we will treat everything you say with the utmost confidence. We take our safeguarding responsibility very seriously. Only in cases where there are safeguarding concerns, we have a legal responsibility to share information. 

We can provide you with information about other agencies who will be able to give you specialist help and advice. With your permission, we can alert the police or social services on your behalf. We can also work with the council to provide you with emergency temporary accommodation or help you get in touch with a refuge.  

Sage can put additional security measures in place if you choose to stay at home after your abuser has left. These include extra locks, personal alarms and window alarms amongst other things.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can report it to Sage Homes. The best way to do this is by contacting Sage Homes on 020 8168 0500 you will then be referred to our Housing Management Team.

You can also email:

residentservices@sagehomes.co.uk if you are a rental customer

homeownerservices@sagehomes.co.uk if you are a shared ownership customer

National Domestic Violence helpline 

A national helpline is available every day of the year. 

Freephone: 0808 2000 247 

Women's Aid

www.womensaid.org.uk/ 

Tel: 0808 2000 247

Please contact if you are a woman facing abuse or violence. If English is not your first language, information has been translated into several languages as well as an easy read version. Women’s Aid also have guidance documents on domestic abuse and coronavirus available in many languages for victims, family and friends, and community members of those affected.​

If you are deaf, you can access a British Sign Language video that explains how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse.

Victim Support 

www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/london/south-london 

Tel: 0808 1689111 

Victim Support provides a support service to all victims of domestic violence, including specialist support for young victims, male victims and those suffering domestic abuse within same-sex relationships. 

Refuge

www.refuge.org.uk/ 

Tel: 0808 2000 247 

Supporting those who have experienced violence and abuse is at the core of everything we do. No matter what your experience – domestic violence, sexual violence, ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage, FGM, human trafficking or modern slavery. 

 Men’s Advice Line

www.mensadviceline.org.uk/ 

Tel: 0808 801 0327 

Advice and support for men experiencing domestic abuse and violence. 
 

ManKind Initiative – advice and support for male victims

 Website: http://new.mankind.org.uk/

 Tel: 01823 334 244

 Email: admin@mankind.org.uk

 Everyman Project (London) – counselling for men who want to change violent or abusive behaviour

 Website: www.everymanproject.co.uk/

 Tel: 0207 263 8884 

 Email: everymanproject@btopenworld.com

 Rights of Women – legal advice

 Website: http://rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-advice/ 

 Tel: 020 7251 6577 (National – Family Law); 020 7608 1137 (London – Family Law); 020 7251 8887 (National – Criminal Law)

 Email: info@row.org.uk

 Woman’s Trust – free counselling and mental health support for victims

 Website: http://womanstrust.org.uk/

 Tel: 020 7034 0303

 Email: office@womanstrust.org.uk

 Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors (FLOWS) – legal advice

 Website: www.rcjadvice.org.uk/family/flows-finding-legal-options-for-women-survivors/

 Phone: 0203 745 7707

 Email: FLOWS@rcjadvice.org.uk

 Bright Sky App

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newtonmobile.hestia&hl=en_GB

iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/bright-sky/id1105880511

Childline 

If you are a young person needing advice about domestic abuse 

Tel: 0800 1111 

Children can experience both short and long term cognitive, behavioural and emotional effects as a result of witnessing domestic abuse. Each child will respond differently to trauma.

These are some of the effects described in a briefing by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2004):

• They may become anxious or depressed
• They may have difficulty sleeping
• They have nightmares or flashbacks
• They can be easily startled
• They may complain of physical symptoms such as tummy aches and may start to wet their bed
• They may have temper tantrums and problems with school
• They may behave as though they are much younger than they are
• They may become aggressive, or they may internalise their distress and withdraw from other people
• They may have a lowered sense of self-worth
• Older children may begin to play truant, start to use alcohol or drugs, begin to self-harm by taking overdoses or cutting themselves or have an eating disorder
• Children may also feel angry, guilty, insecure, alone, frightened, powerless or confused. They may have ambivalent feelings towards both the abuser and the non-abusing parent.