We won’t tell you what to do, but we can support you to understand your options and make a plan.
If you feel afraid, below are some tips for increasing your safety and the safety of your children. This page is a starting point. It is important to access specialist support as well.
In an emergency situation, call 999
You are most at risk when meeting up with your abuser when you have left.
Is there a friend, neighbour, or family member you trust? Let them know you might be at risk from your partner. Arrange a secret code with someone who lives close by (like ringing and hanging up, or a blank text), that lets them know you need help. You could also think about telling a professional you trust for example your GP.
Be ready to call 999 if you or your children are in danger. You can also call 101 in a non-emergency situation to report previous incidents, get advice from the local domestic abuse team, and let them know about any civil orders in place.
Many local authorities offer sanctuary schemes for people who have left abusive relationships. This can include help to make your home more secure. Many local landlords also offer this scheme. Speak to LDAS to find out what is available in your area.
It doesn’t matter that you have already left; we are here to help you. We can help you to stay safer and begin to rebuild your life. If you are searching online, remember that your partner might be tracking your search history.
Many abusers continue to control and harass their partners through their children and child contact arrangements. You can find out more about your rights and options around child contact in our useful information section – children and contact.
Think about ways you can gather evidence of your partner’s behaviour safely. Make notes of abusive incidents, including times, dates, names and details of how it made you feel. Tell your GP, so they have a record of the abuse. Save any abusive messages. These can be used as evidence at a later date. However, make sure they aren’t stored anywhere (physically, or digitally) where your partner might find them. You can find out more about the ways your partner might use technology to abuse you on social media on the tracking and tech section on this website.
These are civil orders that stop an abusive person harassing you. For example, a non-molestation order will tell your perpetrator not to contact you. You don’t need to involve the police to get one, but if your perpetrator breaks one, it becomes a criminal offence. You can find out more about your legal options by speaking with LDAS or look at the helpful resources section on this website.
LDAS know that when you leave an abusive relationship you can feel alone and unsure about the future. We at LDAS are here to support you as you recover from the abuse and that you stay safe as you do.
You can download the advice sheet and put somewhere safe so you can use this as and when you may need. You can also contact for support.
The approach to how we deliver our support is reviewed by survivors who tell us what works and what doesn’t. This ensures we deliver the best possible support to survivors in way that suits their needs.
Click on the links below for more information.
Your dedicated support worker will listen to you and help create a safety and support plan and provide external advocacy to get you to where to you need to be to live a life free from abuse.
Your counsellor will work with you on weekly or fortnightly basis (dependent on you needs) this is usually for an hour. They can help you recover from the trauma you have endured.
Our programmes provide a supportive environment which allow you to share and recover from your experiences whilst developing further understanding of your experiences.
Your dedicated Bridge Mentor will work with you at your pace. They are able support you to navigate what can often seem like complex systems to ensure you live in safe home and look forward to a happy future.