Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can happen in many different ways including:

• Physical – hitting, punching, kicking, pushing, slapping
• Emotional – threatening to hurt the other person, doing and sayings things to frighten the other person, swearing at them or saying things to make them feel bad
• Sexual – doing or making someone do sexual things that they don’t want to
• Financial – taking away the other person’s money, not giving the other person money when they need it or not letting them get a job.

Domestic Abuse can affect young people even if they are not being directly abused themselves. Simply witnessing abuse can have a traumatising effect.

If you are a child or young person witnessing domestic violence in the home you may be feeling very alone, frightened, depressed, confused, isolated. Your school work may be suffering, you may be experiencing difficulties in making friends and relationships, you may be harming yourself in some way as a means of coping with the circumstances at home.

It is important to talk to someone about how you are feeling.

National Domestic Violence Helpline

If you are experiencing domestic violence or know someone who is, this is a free 24 hour helpline run by Women's Aid and Refuge - 0808 2000 247.

Refuge

Refuge provides safe, emergency accommodation and emotional and practical support to women and children experiencing domestic violence.

Women’s Aid

Women's Aid is a national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children.

THE HIDEOUT

Women's Aid have created this site to help children and young people understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it's happening to you.