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Domestic Abuse: Protecting and Supporting Staff and Students

Domestic Abuse: Guidance and support for those at risk of harm and for managers and supervisors supporting them.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 999

University of Leeds Security

Leeds Domestic Violence Service

National Centre for Domestic Violence

Contents of this page:

University of Leeds Support

Support for Staff

 Support for Students

External support – Local: All victims

External support – National: All victims

  • Living Without Abuse – 0808 2000 247
    Provides a wide range of support and advice, with a free National Helpline available 24- hours, seven days a week.
  • National Centre for Domestic Violence – 0800 970 2070
    Provides access to free injunctions and is available 24 hours, seven days a week.
  • Respect – 0808 802 4040
    National helpline for anyone (woman or man) concerned about their abusive behaviour towards their partner or ex-partner
  • Rights of Women – 020 7251 6577
    Aims to provide women with legal advice and information they need to understand and use the law and their legal rights, and works to improve the law for women and increase women’s access to justice. Helpline for women only is available Mondays 11am-1pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm, Thursdays 7pm-9pm and Fridays 12pm-2pm.
  • Refuge  - 0808 2000 247
    Refuge is an independent, specialist charity that supports women fleeing domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence.

External support: Male victims

  • Blast
    Information and support for young men and boys in West Yorkshire being (or at risk of being) sexually exploited
  • Mankind Initiative – 01823 334 244
    Helpline for men across the UK suffering from domestic abuse by their current or former wife or partner (including same-sex partner). Available Monday to Friday 10am-4pm and 7pm-9pm.
  • Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 0327
    National helpline for male victims of domestic abuse, available Monday to Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm.

External support: LGBT+ victims

  • Galop UK – 0800 999 5428
    The LGBT+ anti-violence charity (national) encompassing hate crime, sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Stalking and harassment

  • National Stalking Helpline – 0300 636 0300
    The national helpline for victims of stalking and harassment is available Monday to Friday 9.30am-4pm, except on Wednesday when it is available 1pm-4pm.

External support: Forced marriage and honour-based abuse

Legal support for injunctions

External Support: Spiritual Abuse

Replenished Life offer confidential support over the phone or online for victims of abuse or trauma with faith spaces.

Support for perpetrators

It is recognised that perpetrators of domestic abuse and violence may wish to seek help voluntarily. For more information on help available, contact Respect or call 0808 802 4040.

Additional on-line support and advice

  • The Hideout
    A space to help young people and to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it's happening to them.
  • Respect not Fear
    A site aimed at young people experiencing domestic violence, whether they are the victims, perpetrators of domestic violence or know someone who is.
  • DASH
    The Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-Based Violence (DASH 2009) Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model was implemented across all police services in the UK in 2009. It introduced a common checklist for police services/partner agencies for identifying, assessing and managing risk. There is also a risk checklist for victims of domestic abuse, stalking and honour based violence. This is called the Victim-DASH  and includes further screening questions on stalking, adapted for victims to use.

Support for staff working from home during the pandemic

The University recognises that many staff are working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic, and this could place them at greater risk of harm.  If you are aware, or if you believe that a staff member is at risk of abuse, you should keep in touch with them as far as possible and check on their welfare through video or phone calls, emails and text messages.

If a staff member contacts you to say that they are at risk, you can reassure them that government restrictions on leaving the home do not apply to anyone who needs to escape abuse.

Further guidance on providing support during the pandemic can be found on the Staff Support and Wellbeing website.

Other useful websites include:

Support for students working from home during the pandemic

The University recognises that many students are working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic, and this could place them at greater risk of harm.  If you are aware, or if you believe that a student is at risk of abuse, you should keep in touch with them as far as possible and check on their welfare through video or phone calls, emails and text messages.

If a student contacts you to say that they are at risk, you can reassure them that government restrictions on leaving the home do not apply to anyone who needs to escape abuse.

There is information on how to access the Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service during the pandemic.

The Leeds University Union Help and Support team are offering support to students during the pandemic.

Other useful websites include:

Web addresses (alphabetical order)

Important note

The University recognises that these contact details may not cover every eventuality, and that related policies/legislation/processes and sources of advice/assistance will change. We will update the contacts regularly to help ensure they remain relevant and useful, and welcome any feedback. Please forward comments and suggestions to the Equality & Inclusion Unit (EIU) at equality@leeds.ac.uk

Please also contact EIU if you require this document in an alternatively published format.