Resources

If you need advice or information out-of-hours, or if you are not based in Hull, we hope you find this page useful

If you are in danger or need urgent assistance (police, ambulance or fire) please dial 999.

Domestic Abuse and Violence

UK Organisations

Muslim Women’s Network https://www.mwnhelpline.co.uk/index.php 

Nour Domestic Violence https://www.nour-dv.org.uk/

Forward https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/

Latin American Women’s Aid https://lawadv.org.uk/

Opoka https://www.opoka.org.uk/

Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse https://www.aafda.org.uk/

National Association for People Abused in Childhood https://napac.org.uk/

Surviving Economic Abuse https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/

Rights of Women https://rightsofwomen.org.uk/

Helpful Guides and Other Websites

Shelter has created a Women’s Refuges resource https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/womens_refuges

Rights of Women has produced a free guide Domestic Violence and Immigration Law: The “Domestic Violence Rule”

Clare’s Law

Also known as the ‘Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS)’, this gives you the right to:

  • Make an application to the police requesting information about your current or ex-partner, because you are worried they may have been abusive in the past and believe they may pose a risk to you in future.
  • Request information from the police about the current or ex-partner of a close friend, neighbour or family member, because you are concerned that they might be at risk of domestic abuse in future.

This is called the ‘right to ask.’ You have a right to ask the police no matter if your enquiry relates to a heterosexual or same-sex relationship, as long as you are aged 16 or older. You also have the right to ask about a partner regardless of your (or your neighbour, friend or family member’s) gender identity, ethnicity, race, religion or other characteristics.

You also have the ‘right to know’. This means that if police checks show that your current or ex-partner has a record of violent or abusive behaviour, and they believe you may be at risk, they may decide to proactively share that information with you. If you’re worried that your current or former partner has been abusive or violent in the past, Clare’s Law was created to formally give you the right to find out.

If you are thinking about starting a new relationship or have concerns about your partner, you can dial 101 to request information.

Stalking

Paladin https://www.paladinservice.co.uk/

Suzy Lamplugh Trust https://www.suzylamplugh.org/

Online Safety

Understand how to protect yourself and your children online, stay safe and report abuse.

Protect your data
  • Set up a unique password to protect your devices and accounts. Use two-factor authentication where you can. 
  • Don’t use the same password.
  • Don’t share your passwords.
  • Change your passwords regularly.

Use incognito mode when browsing on the internet:

Emergency Alerts

With the UK Government introducing the ‘Emergency Alert Service’, if you have a hidden mobile phone or device, you must know how to switch alerts off on your devices if needed.  Switch Off Alerts

Other Helpful Guides and Websites

Refuge has created a series of resources and toolkits to help you secure your devices and stay safe. Secure Your Tech

South West Grid for Learning https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/

ParentZone https://parentzone.org.uk/

Glitch is an award-winning UK charity ending online abuse and championing digital citizenship. They have a particular focus on Black women and marginalised people. Glitch Resources

What to do if you are experiencing online abuse? Download the Guide

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Refugee Council https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/

Right to Remain https://righttoremain.org.uk/

Welsh Refugee Council https://wrc.wales/

Scottish Refugee Council https://scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) https://www.jcwi.org.uk/Pages/Category/legal-advice

Refugee Legal Support https://www.refugeelegalsupport.org/

Asylum Support Appeals Project https://www.asaproject.org/

Asylum Aid https://www.asylumaid.org.uk/

Migrants’ Rights Network https://migrantsrights.org.uk/

Latin American Women’s Rights Service https://lawrs.org.uk/

Trafficking

Unseen UK https://www.unseenuk.org/working-with-survivors/

Anti-Slavery https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/slavery-uk/

Every Child Protected Against Trafficking https://www.ecpat.org.uk/

Mental Health

Black Minds Matter UK https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com/ 

The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network https://www.baatn.org.uk/

Taraki https://www.taraki.co.uk/

Saheliya (Edinburgh and Glasgow) https://www.saheliya.co.uk/

BAME Mental Health Service (Wales) https://www.bamementalhealth.org/

Young Minds https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Disability

Scope https://www.scope.org.uk/

Reasonable Access https://www.reasonableaccess.org.uk/

Disability Rights UK https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/

Disability Law Service https://dls.org.uk/

Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association https://www.dewa.org.uk/

Stay Safe While Travelling

If you feel uncomfortable or in danger:
  • do not be afraid to draw attention to yourself by shouting and making a fuss
  • being safe is more important than being polite
Before you travel
  • Set up Emergency Contacts on your mobile devices (Android / Apple). This will allow Emergency Services to contact the right person if you are unable to.
  • Take photos/screenshots of your documents (passport, driving license, ID) and travel information (hotel and travel bookings) and save them in a secure location/on your mobile device.
  • Activate Location Tracking on your mobile devices. Find My Phone (Android / Apple). This will ensure a trusted person can locate you if needed, or switch it off if you need to. 
  • Share your travel itinerary and accommodation details with a trusted person.
  • Keep your money, ID and mobile devices safe  (hide it on your person).
  • Keep important phone numbers safe in case you lose your phone.
UK Public Transport
  • If you can, avoid travelling at night.
  • Choose a train carriage that has other people in it. If you feel in danger, move to another carriage or find the train conductor.  
  • Download the free Railway Guardian app. The app allows you to report crimes or concerns on the rail network, share your journeys with trusted contacts, and get access to news, guides, or support. 

For more advice on staying safe while travelling on public transport, visit Street Safe Thinking https://streetsafethinking.com/a-guide-to-female-safety-on-public-transport/ 

Travelling by Car
  • Always keep your doors locked.
  • Ensure you always have at least a quarter of a fuel tank.
  • Plan your journey before setting off. Use Google Maps / Apple Maps / Waze to ensure your journey is always accurate.

If you need to use a service station, there are tips you can follow to stay safe.

  • If you are travelling with another person, stay together at all times.
  • Try not to stop in a dark, isolated, or quiet location.
  • Opt for a well-lit, 24/7 service station if you need to refuel, rest or a toilet break.
  • If you need to rest, keep your doors locked at all times.
  • If someone knocks on your vehicle door or window, do not open your door or engage with them.
Hotels
  • Don’t let anyone keep your passport or travel documents
  • Never tell anyone your room number.
  • Never open your door for unknown or unwanted visitors.
  • Always keep your doors and windows locked. This is especially important if your room is near the street level or has a balcony.
  • Use your first initial but no title (‘Miss’, ‘Ms’ or ‘Mrs) when booking accommodation
  • Never leave your key where someone can note your room number
  • Lock your door when you are inside the room
  • Use the spy hole or chain, if the door has one, before opening the door to unexpected visitors
  • Bring a door wedge to place behind your accommodation door
  • Cover up the spy hole when you are not using it.
  • Use the in-room safe to store your documents, bank cards and cash. 
  • Don’t leave any identifying information visible/accessible in your room.

For more advice, visit Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation https://www.carolinesrainbowfoundation.org/ 

Travelling Abroad

Apply the relevant advice detailed above and make a note of/or download:

  • The local/national emergency services contact number
  • Embassy address and phone number
  • Local public transport apps/timetables