The most important thing to remember is that relationship abuse is not your fault.
If you're experiencing relationship abuse, you have choices.
If you're experiencing relationship abuse, you have choices.
YOUR IMMEDIATE SAFETY:
Make yourself safe
If you are at home or in the home of someone else – has the attacker gone? If not, can you make yourself safe, contact a friend or family member or call the police? If you are in any danger or seriously injured call 999 immediately.
If possible, try and find somewhere you feel safe.
If you need a safe space or support from the University, on or off campus, call the Emergency Response Team on 07854 199020.
This number is available 24 hours a day for University Staff, University Students or other informants who need to report a serious incident that requires immediate and urgent response by the University.
The Safe Taxi Scheme. This scheme has been set up so that students can get home safely - if you don't have any cash, you can pay the fare the next day. Call Rainbow City Taxis on 01224 26 22 22 and order a taxi using the 'Safe Taxi' account name, and tell the operator your University and your student number.
Boots Pharmacy Consultation Rooms now also act as safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse where you can contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice.
Boots Pharmacy Consultation Rooms now also act as safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse where you can contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice.
Do you have any injuries?
If you have any physical symptoms after an assault you should seek medical help.
If this is more than a very minor injury, or if you were unconscious for even a short time, you should go to Accident and Emergency. If you can, it may be helpful to bring a friend or family member with you.
It is up to you how much information you provide, but the hospital staff will be able to offer you better advice if they are aware of the circumstances.
INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST SUPPORT:
There are a large number of support services you can call or visit who you can talk with about what has happened to you.
- Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Phone: 0800 027 1234 (24 hour service)
Provides confidential information and support to anyone affected by forced marriage or domestic abuse. - Grampian Women's Aid
Phone: 01224 593381
Grampian Women’s Aid offers a free, confidential and non-judgemental service to women, children and young people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who have experienced domestic abuse. - Safer Scotland
Phone: 0800 027 1234 (Domestic Abuse Helpline)
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing violent, abusive, or controlling behaviour, support is available. A range of specialist numbers are also provided. Chat online or email options also available. - Scottish Women's Aid
Phone: 0800 027 1234 (Domestic Abuse Helpline)
Provides advice, support and safe accommodation for women (and their children) who have been abused by their partner or ex-partner. They can recommend local groups. - Aberdeen Cyrenians
Phone: 01224 625732
Projects offer 1 to 1 support to women, helping them to build the confidence to make positive changes in their lives and supports them to gain safe accommodation. - Victim Support Scotland
Phone: 0345 603 9213 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm)
Provides information and support for victims and witnesses of crime. - AMIS (Abused Men in Scotland)
Phone: 03300 949 395
Supports men who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse. Call the confidential helpline (it's free to call from landlines and most UK mobiles, and doesn't appear on itemised phone bills) - Men's Advice Line
Phone: 0808 801 0327
For men experiencing domestic abuse from their current or ex-partner - SACRO Fear Free Project
Fearless is a support service for any man, or LGBTI+ person experiencing domestic abuse. - AMINA
Phone: 0808 801 0301 (Helpline Open Mon - Fri, 10am - 4pm)
Helpline for Scotland providing support to women from minority backgrounds who have been affected by violence against women. Support is available in English, Urdu, Arabic, Bangla and Swahili. Service also runs a VAW awareness programme. - Shakti Women's Aid (shaktiedinburgh.co.uk)
- Help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse.
- Scottish Women’s Rights Centre Advocacy Support Helpline
Tel: 08088 010 789 every Tuesday, 11 am to 2 pm.
The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre Advocacy Support Helpline is for women affected by gender based violence. At SWRC we know that abuse and violence can affect every area of a woman’s life. Our advocacy workers will be available once a week to answer questions around issues like housing, child welfare, benefits, employment, among many others, as well as to explain legal processes and signpost women to relevant support services. Through this helpline we will also identify women who might benefit from short or long-term non-legal representation, so we can advocate for their rights.
- Bright Sky App. This looks like a weather app so if a partner has control over personal devices, it should not be noticeable. Bright Sky provides information on what abuse is, links to information and resources, and a secure journal to record incidents of abuse secretly, without it being saved to your device.
- mygov.scot Practical advice and Relationship Abuse Support
- Revenge Porn Helpline
Revenge pornography is illegal. Contact the Revenge Porn helpline (only operating on email service at the moment) help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm
REPORTING TO THE POLICE:
Abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner is a criminal offence.
This includes psychological abuse such as coercive and controlling behaviour as well as violence.
The police recognise revenge porn as a serious form of abuse. If someone is sharing or threatening to share an intimate image without consent you can report it.
Please report your concerns to Police Scotland at your local police station. You can also call the police non-urgently to report something of concern or even discuss a situation on 101, online or via 999 if it is an emergency.
Police Scotland has also launched the new Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland.
If you have concerns about your own partner’s past, or concerns about another person’s partner, you can apply to the Scheme to ask if that person has a history of domestic abuse or other relevant behaviour.
Police Scotland has also launched the new Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland.
If you have concerns about your own partner’s past, or concerns about another person’s partner, you can apply to the Scheme to ask if that person has a history of domestic abuse or other relevant behaviour.
Reporting incidents assists Police Scotland in tackling domestic abuse. The information you provide is valuable. It enables the police to identify areas of concern and patterns of behaviour that could lead to the prosecution of offenders and to ensuring the safety of the victim.
You can also report an incident anonymously by calling crime stoppers at any point on 0800 555 111
FIND OUT MORE:
RGU SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS & STAFF:
- Report and Support. Students and staff can report an incident using the University’s Report and Support system. The purpose of this system is to provide support in the event of sexual violence or harassment. You can also choose to make an anonymous report.
- First Responder Scheme. Our support also system includes specially trained members of Robert Gordon University’s staff who can listen and offer support.
- Student Counselling & Wellbeing Centre. The Counselling & Wellbeing Centre is here to help and support you throughout your time at University.
- Employee Assistance Programme. The EAP service offers confidential independent help, information, and guidance to University staff. It is accessed by telephone or web portal and is totally confidential. The Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to employees. It also allows for up to six face-to-face counselling sessions, offered near the caller’s home or place of work.
OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
- RGU Nightline is an anonymous, confidential, non-judgemental and non-advisory listening and information service run for students by students. Call: 01224 26 36 46. Lines are open 8pm to 8am Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat during term time.
- Samaritans are available to talk about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue. You don't have to be suicidal. Call: 116 123. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Breathing Space where experienced advisors will listen and offer information and advice. Call their Helpline number: 0800 83 85 87 Opening hours: Weekdays: Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am. Weekend: Friday 6pm-Monday 6am
- Four Pillars – Supporting Grampians LGBT+ Community (fourpillarsuk.org)
- Mental Health Aberdeen | MHA local mental health and counselling services.
- Penumbra - Supporting Scotland's Mental Health a charity providing dedicated services for people experiencing mild to serious and enduring mental ill health.