Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline

Refuge is the country's largest provider of specialist domestic abuse services, and it runs the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline — the UK's primary route into support for women experiencing domestic abuse. For a parent whose separation involves abuse, this is the most important single contact in this directory: it can affect your safety, your housing, and how the family court treats your case.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31

What Refuge is

Refuge is a national charity (registered charity number 277424) and the largest single provider of specialist domestic abuse services in the UK. Every year it supports thousands of women and children through a national network of refuges (emergency safe accommodation), community-based outreach services, independent domestic violence advocates (IDVAs) working with police and courts, and specialist services including culturally specific support.

Refuge has run the National Domestic Abuse Helpline since the 1990s. The freephone helpline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, staffed by highly trained female advisers who offer confidential, non-judgemental support in many languages (with interpreter access), and who can refer callers into refuge spaces and local specialist services across the country.

What help it offers

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 — free, 24/7, confidential. Advisers listen, explain your options, help you plan for safety, and can find you a refuge place or other specialist service. Never tells you what to do; never judges.
Live chat at nationaldahelpline.org.uk — Monday to Friday 10am–10pm, weekends 10am–6pm — a discreet alternative if speaking aloud is unsafe.
BSL support — video-call interpretation for Deaf women, Monday to Friday 10am–6pm.
Refuge accommodation and community services — emergency safe housing with specialist support for women and children, plus outreach and advocacy services in many areas.
Tech safety guidance at refugetechsafety.org — how to spot and counter stalking, tracking and device monitoring.
Website information on recognising abuse, your rights and legal options (including protective orders), and the effects of abuse on children.

The helpline is for women experiencing any kind of domestic abuse, and for friends, family and colleagues supporting them. Male victims can contact the Men's Advice Line (0808 801 0327). In an emergency, always call 999.

Contact details

National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24/7, free): 0808 2000 247
Helpline website: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Live chat: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/chat-to-us-online/
Refuge main site: https://refuge.org.uk
Refuge reception (general enquiries only — not for support): 020 7395 7700
Address: Refuge, Tintagel House, Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TY (support is not available through the registered address — use the helpline)

Safety note: if someone monitors your devices, use a safe device and use the "quick exit" button on the helpline website; consider private browsing and clearing history.

How a self-representing parent can use Refuge / the Helpline

If you are in family proceedings — child arrangements, non-molestation or occupation orders — and domestic abuse is part of your case:

1. Safety planning first. Before you file anything, or when separation escalates risk, call the helpline. Advisers help you plan safe exit, emergency accommodation, and protection — the court's case can only proceed if you are safe enough to engage with it. 2. Refuge accommodation. If you need to leave with children, the helpline can find a refuge space; refuges routinely support women through ongoing family proceedings and help children get school places. 3. Evidence and protective orders. The helpline advisers and Refuge's site explain non-molestation and occupation orders, domestic abuse protection orders, and how to evidence abuse. Where there is evidence of domestic abuse, you may qualify for legal aid (non-means-tested for protective injunctions) — advisers can explain the routes. 4. Understand how abuse is treated in children cases. The "your rights and options" material explains how the family court handles allegations of abuse, Practice Direction 12J, and what findings of fact mean — essential reading for any litigant in person in these cases. 5. IDVA support. If you report to police, you may be assigned an IDVA who supports you through criminal and family processes and liaises with the court. 6. Tech safety in proceedings. If the other parent is monitoring your messages, the Tech Safety site shows you how to secure your phone and accounts before you correspond with solicitors or the court.

Refuge does not provide legal representation or act as your solicitor; for case-specific legal advice combine the helpline's support with a legal aid family firm, Coram Child Law Advice, or Rights of Women's legal advice lines.

Useful links

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Live chat: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/chat-to-us-online/
Refuge: https://refuge.org.uk
Tech safety: https://refugetechsafety.org
Rights of Women (legal advice lines): https://rightsofwomen.org.uk

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws, procedures and contact details change — verify anything important against the official sources linked above before relying on it. Your Family Case is an independent directory listing; we take no referral fees and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or receiving payment from any organisation listed.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.