Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS)

The NHS Scotland sexual assault self-referral phone service can help to arrange care for you in the days following a rape or sexual assault. The service may be able to arrange for you to have a forensic medial examination (FME) at a SARCS without making a report to the police. You can find out more information here Turn to SARCS | NHS inform

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted in the last 7 days, you can phone the sexual assault self-referral phone service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 148 88 88. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles. 

Scottish Welfare Fund - Community Care Grants

Community Care Grants help people in a vulnerable situation to set up home, when moving from an 'unsettled way of life', which includes escaping domestic abuse.

How to be an ally to someone experiencing domestic abuse

A resource for friends and family who know a loved one experiencing domestic abuse and coercive control and would like to know how best to support them.

It is also for friends and family who have concerns about a loved one, but who aren’t sure whether abuse is happening.

The Scottish Women's Rights Centre

Free legal information and advice to women experiencing violence and abuse. 

They have put together useful guides, details of helplines and services available and how to contact them.

This includes services for:

• domestic abuse, forced marriage and stalking
• rape and sexual violence
• services for Black and Ethnic Minority women
• sexual harassment and online abuse
• female genital mutilation ('cutting') and honour-based violence
• human trafficking and exploitation
• legal advice, practical information and victim support
• housing, immigration, benefits, and other general support

Local services

Aura - 01698 757667,  aura@sacro.org.uk  

Monklands Women’s Aid – 01236 432061, info@monklandswomensaid.org.uk   

Motherwell and District Women’s Aid – 01698 321000, info@mdwa.org.uk   

Cumbernauld and District Women's Aid – 01236 730992, nlwaid@aol.com  

Lanarkshire Rape Crisis Centre – 01698 527003, support@lanrcc.org.uk   

Shakti Women’s Aid – 0131 475 2399, info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk

Amina, The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre – 0808 801 0301, info@mwrc.org.uk

Support for male survivors of abuse

The Men's Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. They offer advice and emotional support to men who experience abuse, and signpost to other vital services that help keep them and their children safe.

Respect, Men’s Advice Line (Scotland) Phone: 0808 8010327, email info@mensadviceline.org.uk  

Survivor UK helps men who have experienced sexual abuse and violence. They also support their friends and family, no matter when the abuse happened, and challenge the silence and attitudes.

Phone: 0203 598 3898, email help@survivorsuk.org

Support for LGTB victims of domestic abuse

Domestic abuse affects gay men, lesbians, bisexual and trans people. 

• 1 in 4 lesbian and bi women have experienced domestic abuse from a partner
• 80% of trans respondents stated that they had experienced emotionally, sexually or physically abusive behaviour by a partner or ex-partner

Lesbian and bi women are as likely as women in general to have experienced domestic abuse. 

Half of gay and bi men have experienced domestic abuse, and a third have experienced domestic abuse from a partner.

The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline provides a confidential, non-judgmental 24-hour telephone service throughout Scotland, available on 0800 027 1234.

LGBT Youth Scotland also runs a project on LGBT domestic abuse in Scotland, focused on helping service providers help people who are experiencing abuse.