Types of Domestic abuse can include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Financial or economic abuse
• Harassment and stalking
• Online or digital abuse
• Gender and domestic abuse

In most relationships, it is normal for couples and families to experience some difficulties. To understand and recognise whether that relationship is abusive, you need to think about how the behaviour of your partner or family member makes you feel. If their behaviour is making you feel scared, controlled or unable to ask for help, then that is considered abuse.

Recognising the signs of an abusive relationship:

• A partner may frequently criticise your thinking or things you do and make you doubt yourself. An example of this might be that you are repeatedly told you are unattractive, so you might start believe this.
• If you are feeling anxious or scared when your partner is around, and you feel you have to change your behaviour to avoid arguments, confrontation or violence.
• If you are feeling intimidated by your partner when they get angry and are worried that their behaviour is unpredictable or aggressive.
• You’re made to feel guilty and your partner might control you by telling you who you can and can’t see, or emotionally blackmail you.

In most cases, women are more likely to experience domestic abuse and multiple incidents of it. The abuse is normally inflicted by a male partner and is often in the form of partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The abuse is experienced by all women, regardless of race, ethnic or religious group, sexuality, class, or disability.

Other forms of physical abuse against women and girls may be forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and other so-called honour crimes. These crimes are perpetrated by family members, commonly with multiple perpetrators.  

Helping Hands is a 6-week preventative programme for primary school children aged 5 to 11 years who have witnessed/experienced domestic violence and are now living in a safe and settled environment away from the perpetrator. It is run by is run by Women’s Aid the National Domestic Violence Charity.

The primary purpose of Helping Hands is to increase children’s understanding of feeling safe and to explore behaviours which will contribute to a safe environment. Each session has a different theme and the child workers will work through the activities with the children. Running alongside the programme is a group for the mothers to ensure that they are another source of support for their children; it also then gives the opportunity to deal with any issues that may arise from the process. 

Contact Information

• Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
• Phone Sarah: 07918 184 616 (High Wycombe)
• Phone Susan: 01296 436 827 (Aylesbury)
• Or Freephone (24 hours): 0808 2000 247