I need help

If you are in immediate danger call 999 or 999BSL.

If you can’t speak, cough or tap the handset then press 55 on your phone – the police will know it’s an emergency)

For 24/7 advice call the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 2000 247.

If you know, or think, you are experiencing abuse from a partner/ex-partner or family member, we can support you.

Call our helpline

0800 917 9948

For non-emergency support.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 09:30–11:30am, 12:30–2:30pm
Thursday and Friday 09:30–11:30am
(except bank holidays)

Your call is free, confidential and will not show up on itemised phone bills.

For BSL helpline support search Victim Support at www.signlive.co.uk.

Email us

Get in touch by email at

helpline@oasisdaservice.org

Only do this is if it is safe to do so and cover your tracks.

We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Visit our drop-in centres

Virtual One-Stop Shop
Monday – Thursday 10:00am to 12:00pm (except bank holidays)
Call: 07856856278
Email: EastKent1SS@gmail.com (if it’s safe to do so. Make sure to cover your tracks)

In-person One-Stop Shop
Tuesdays 9.30 – 11.30am
Sunlight Centre, 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham ME7 1LX

24-hour national support

National Domestic Violence Helpline – call 0808 2000 247

Men’s Advice Line – call 0808 801 0327

National specialist support:

Galop National LGBT+ Domestic Violence Helpline – call
0800 999 5428 (Monday to Friday 10am–5pm, Wednesday, Thursday 10am–8pm)

For forced marriage call 020 7008 0151

Chat with us

Come to our in-person and virtual ‘One-Stop Shop’ drop-in centres where we can give you free, confidential advice about your situation, along with other professionals such as legal and housing experts.

Virtual One-Stop Shop

Monday – Thursday 10:00am to 12:00pm (except bank holidays)
Call: 07856856278
Email: EastKent1SS@gmail.com (if it’s safe to do so. Make sure to cover your tracks)

An administrator will take your call or email and arrange for an appropriate professional to get back to you by 12:00 that day.

In-person One-Stop Shop

Tuesdays 9.30 – 11.30am
Sunlight Centre, 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham ME7 1LX

There are One-Stop Shops all over Kent and Medway – you can find the one closest to you by visiting www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk.

One-Stop Shop Spots

We’ve partnered with a number of venues in local communities to offer a walk-in room for you to access a private space to reach for help. Look for a poster that says ‘We are a Virtual One Stop Shop Spot’ and simply ask at reception to use “The Spot”.

What happens when I get in touch ?

However you get in touch, our specialist team member will listen to you and chat through the right support options for your situation, helping you to plan what to do next.

It’s ok if you’re not sure what help you need or where to start, we’re here to advise you. We know how hard it is to reach out - your strength in doing so is your first step to safety.

Our trained specialist support worker will:

Listen to you, will not judge you and will believe what you tell them

We will assess your individual risk and our support worker will talk you through your options, which may include:

Referral for group and specialist support (this may be with other relevant agencies)
Advice on safety planning
Advice on your legal rights, housing, benefits and family support
What emergency accommodation / safer housing options are available
Support in connecting you with other support services, such as the police and social care

We offer domestic abuse advice across East Kent, Medway and North Kent.

How to keep safe

We know you may be feeling scared and unable to leave your relationship. We are here to support you and create a safety plan that works for you. When you’re ready, please get in touch.

In the meantime, here is some advice on how you might be able to reduce the risk from your current/ex-partner or family member and feel a little safer.

Tell someone you trust what is going on – a friend, colleague or trusted family member
In an emergency, call 999 – if you can’t speak, cough or tap the handset – the police will know it’s an emergency – and teach your children how to call 999 and how to ask for help
Arrange a safe place to go in case you need to leave suddenly
Consider purchasing a pay-as-you-go phone and hiding it in case you need it in an emergency
Make several copies of important papers such as financial, insurance, and benefits papers. Give a copy to a trusted person or leave them at work
Gather proof of your identity – driving license, passport, birth certificates
Make extra sets of important keys and hide them to use in an emergency – leave a spare set of car keys with a trusted person.
Prepare a bag of essentials for yourself and your children (clothing, medicine, important documents, spare set of keys) and leave it with a trusted person in case you need to leave quickly.
Memorise important emergency and support helpline numbers.
Develop a code word to use with a trusted person in case of emergency e.g. texting ‘Milk’ could mean ‘Call 999 I’m in danger’
Practice how you would leave home safely in an emergency
Share your safety plan with a trusted person- you can even get them to help you

How to cover your tracks online

Minimise the chance of someone knowing you have visited this website.

Use the ‘Exit Site’ button in the top right corner of this website to quickly hide the page – it will direct you to the Google homepage. You will still need to delete your browsing history fully to cover your tracks
Use the internet somewhere other than at home; at a local library, a friend’s house, or at work, if possible.
Use a password on your computer and phone, and don’t disclose it to anyone.
Use “Private Browsing” or “Incognito” windows to view information online that you do not wish to have stored on your internet history (online services can still see your history but it won’t leave traces of your activity on your computer – history, web cache)
Internet Explorer: Click the Safety button — select Tools — select ‘InPrivate Browsing’
Firefox: Click the Menu button with three horizontal lines — select ‘New Private Window’
Microsoft Edge: Click the three dots in the top right of the page — select ‘New InPrivate window’
Chrome: Click the Menu button with three horizontal lines — select ‘New Incognito Window’
Safari: Click the File button — select ‘New Private Window’
Delete your browsing history – go to the ‘history’ section of your browsing page, find any entries that say www.oasisdaservice.org.uk, right-click on this and choose Delete.
Install free antispy software for your computer: Windows | Apple
Always log out
Remove mobile spyware from your phone and disable geolocation tracking and geotagging (and on any social media platforms you use)

Survivor's Handbook

The Women's Aid Survivor’s Handbook provides practical support and information for those experiencing domestic abuse, with simple guidance on every aspect of seeking support. The safety tactics described in the Handbook can be useful for anyone affected by domestic abuse - women and men, including LGBT+ people.

The Survivor’s Handbook

Find out if a current or ex-partner has been abusive before

You have the right to ask the Police to carry out checks –
call 101 or go to your local police station to make an application.

If they show that the person has a record of abusive offences, or there is other information to indicate that they pose a risk, the Police will consider sharing this information with you.

Please note that information can only be given if offences/charges have been made – if a record doesn’t exist, it doesn’t mean that the person hasn’t been abusive in the past.