Black and Minoritised Communities

Anyone can experience domestic abuse, regardless of their background.

Black and Minoritised Communities

Domestic abuse can include physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse in an intimate relationship (e.g., partner, ex-partner) or family relationship (e.g., parents or siblings). Forced marriage, so-called 'honour-based' abuse, and FGM are also forms of abuse. You can get support, we will listen to you and we will believe you.

Black and Minoritised Communities

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Whilst most people think of domestic abuse as being something one intimate partner/ex-partner does to another, abuse by your own family or your partner/spouse’s family is also domestic abuse. Rarely a one-off incident, domestic abuse usually forms a pattern of coercive, controlling behaviour which can get worse over time.

Are you being abused?

Please click here and use this list to help you recognise if you or someone you know is being abused. We recognise there may be additional barriers for you in terms of accessing services. For example, you may:

  • fear stereotyping or racism from agencies and feel reluctant to ask them for help
  • have language needs
  • not feel you are being listened to; understood or heard
  • fear deportation due to your immigration or asylum status
  • worry that your children will be taken away or that you will be rejected by your family or your community.

RISE offers specialised, confidential support for Black and minoritised women. Interpreters may also be available on request. Do not suffer in silence. You are not alone, we understand and we believe you. Please contact us by phone on 01273 622 822

Black and Minoritised Communities

In an emergency, call 999.

The Silent Solution system

The Silent Solution system enables a 999 mobile caller who is too scared to make a noise, or speak, to press 55 when prompted – to inform police they are in a genuine emergency. It can, in extreme situations, potentially save a life.

It is not true that police will automatically attend if you make a silent 999 call. To ensure the call receives a response, callers need to listen and respond to questions and instructions, including by coughing or tapping the handset if possible, or if using a mobile phone, once prompted by the automated Silent Solution system, pressing 55.

The system filters out thousands of accidental or hoax silent 999 calls made daily. Around 50 emergency calls from mobiles a day are transferred by a BT operator to police forces in the UK as a result of someone having pressed 55 when prompted, enabling the police to carry out urgent enquiries to respond.

You can also call the 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 which is free and has a language line facility.

Black and Minoritised Communities

Specialist Black and Minoritised Domestic Abuse Organisations

Forced Marriage and Other Harmful Practices Support:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Support:

Immigration Support

Wellbeing and Mental Health Support

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