Women's Aid defines domestic abuse as

‘an incident or pattern of incidents controlling, coercive, threatening degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.’

Domestic abuse can include but is not limited to:

• Coercive control
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Financial or economic abuse

Witnessing any form of abuse can be damaging to children, with long-lasting effects to their emotional and mental wellbeing.
 

Links to external support services:

NDAS (Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service) – ‘quick exit’ available on website
Helpline:  0300 0120 154 (24hrs)
Email for advice/support:  advice@ndas-org.co.uk
X (Twitter):  @NorthantsDAS
Facebook:  NorthamptonshireDAS
Refuge access:  via Helpline
Male-only Refuge (one of nine in the UK):   via Helpline

EVE Northamptonshire – ‘hide my visit’ available on website
Tel:  01604 230311
Refuge access:  01604 230311
Text:  07827 239496 (9am to 10pm)
Email:  eve2eve@eve.org.uk (9am to 10pm)

Arranging Refuge accommodation:
Freephone National 24hr Domestic Violence Helpline:  0808 2000 247 – run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge.

Women's Aid – ‘cover your tracks’ available on website
Email:  helpline@womensaid.org.uk
Live Chat:  WA Live Chat

Samaritans
Tel:  116 123 (free) – 24hrs, 365 days
Email:  jo@samaritans.org – may take several days to respond
Online Chat available via Samaritans online

Citizens Advice Bureau
Adviceline (England):  0800 144 8848 (free from mobiles & landlines)
Online chatline:  CAB Online Chat (9am to 8pm Mon-Fri / 9:30am to 1pm Sat)