Staying safe during the coronavirus emergency
Help and support for those who are experiencing or know someone experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence during the coronavirus emergency.
Talk to us now
If you, a family member a friend, or someone you are concerned about has experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, you can contact the Live Fear Free Helpline 24 hours a day 7 days a week, for free advice and support or to talk through your options.
Get in touch with Live Fear Free advisors free of charge by phone
Call: 0808 80 10 800
Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
About the helpline
Live chat service
Text: 07860077333
Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
About the text service
Email: info@livefearfreehelpline.wales
Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
About the email service
The Live Fear Free helpline can help you by:
• listening to you and offering a safe, non-judgemental space
• talking through your options and rights
• providing emotional support
• referring you to local specialist services
• helping you with safety advice and information
• risk assessing your situation
All conversations with Live Fear Free are confidential and are with staff that are highly experienced and fully trained.
Keeping safe at home
Not every home is a place of safety, for some, it may become a place where isolation increases the risk of abuse and control.
As you are at home more often during the coronavirus pandemic, you may need to re-consider how to keep safe.
It’s important to think how this situation changes your safety plan.
- Your abuser is likely to be at home with you
- Your children may be home from school
- Your finances may be put under additional pressure
- You may not be able to speak to your support networks, family or friends
- How your own health and wellbeing will change
How you can stay safe
- Stay in touch with family and friends where you can – there are a number of useful apps to visually stay in touch: Skype, FaceTime, video calling, just remember to do these safely. Others may be listening
- Where you can safely access support, contact your local domestic abuse service or the helpline to establish a safe plan at home or a safe leaving plan
- Establish a code word or an emergency sign/signal to let those close to you know you need help and to call the police
- Where you can, keep a bag of essential items safe, consider options for storing this safely; perhaps leaving with a trusted neighbour
- Use local shops where online shopping slots are unavailable and more are opening and speak to someone
- Silent calls to police – dial 999 – then 55 if you can’t talk (Find out more information about this service)
Home shouldn’t be a place of fear
The ‘Home shouldn’t be a place of fear’ campaign has been launched to let those at risk know that help is still available, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via Live Fear Free.
Join the conversation on social media using #LiveFearFree
You can download further information including posters, images and films.
Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence – online training
We want anyone who is still in a position to help those who may be at increased risk of abuse to be able to recognise the signs. We want to share how help can be given safely, whether that is one of the thousands of volunteers assisting our most vulnerable, an emergency contractor, postal services workforce, local shops or supermarket employees.
That is why we have made our violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) online learning module accessible to all (temporarily during coronavirus outbreak via a guest log in).