Menu

Get in touch 0330 0945 559

CALL 0330 094 5559, OR 999 IN AN EMERGENCY

Practical advice and tips on keeping safe during lock-down

For anyone experiencing domestic abuse, the rules put in place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus is having a massive impact on their safety.

With many households across the country being stuck indoors, it makes it easier for perpetrators to control more and more aspects of their victims lives, including what they do and when, what they can eat, who they can speak to, how money is spent and if they can get medical help or not.

We spoke to Donna, one of Glow’s refuge managers, about some practical advice and tips on how people could keep themselves and their family safe:

If you can, create some space for yourself

  • Wherever possible make use of the government’s recommended daily exercise, exercise is known to be beneficial to mental health and it will also provide some opportunity for some personal space.
  • Use your car if available for some separate time when necessary.

Have a safety plan

  • Think about how you leave the house in an emergency, know the quickest and safest route out or the safest rooms in the property.
  • Pack an emergency bag, where possible, including all essential belongings such as identification, money, bank cards, medication and essential clothing.
  • If you can make sure your children are aware of this plan and know what to do in an emergency.

In an emergency

  • Make sure your mobile phone is charged, always topped up and on hand. If children have mobile phones encourage them to do the same.
  • If you call 999, there is a police system in place called The Silent Solution- if you can’t speak or are making the call in secret, wait around 20 seconds for the automated message to finish and then press ‘55’. Your call will be forward to the local police force as an emergency.
  • If physical incidents occur, try wherever possible to stay out of high-risk areas such as the kitchen and bathroom or where weapons may be kept in the house.

Have a support network

  • If you can, share safe words with your neighbours that can be communicated when you feel you are in danger. Safe words or single emoji that can be text to friends or family are also a good way to raise any alarms.
  • Wherever possible stay in regular contact with friends and family to maintain your support networks.

Get help and support

  • Although many face to face services are closed online services such as Supportline are still available to offer emotional and practical support via email or telephone.
  • Women’s Aid is also offering a live chat between 10am-12pm and online Survivors Forum.
  • Try to access online resources to help you cope, Mind, Healthy Minds and the Samaritans websites all have resources for coping with mental health.

We’re available Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm where our staff are able to provide our usual support and guidance by phone and email. Whenever you feel ready to reach out and talk, get in touch and we’ll find the right help for you.

Contact Glow on 0330 0945 559 or email support@localhost 

Need someone to talk to or know someone who does?

If you are in immediate danger please call 999

Get in touch 0330 0945 559

CALL 0330 094 5559, OR 999 IN AN EMERGENCY

Cookie & Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
For more information view our cookie policy.

Hit "Customise" to manually select which cookies to accept.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.