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Domestic abuse

Get confidential domestic abuse support through our Ask for Ruth service.

Ask for Ruth

Keeping our customers safe

Riverside believes that everyone has the right to live without fear or abuse in their own homes and communities. We understand the severity of domestic abuse and take a zero tolerance approach within our communities.

Our focus is to make sure all of our customers feel safe and that any victim of domestic abuse has the help and assistance they need from us.

We’ll help you get the advice and support you need

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, you may feel very alone and have no idea who or where to turn to. We’ll help you get the advice and support you need.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse means any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

There are different types of domestic abuse, including physical, psychological, sexual, financial or emotional abuse, and being cut off from your family and friends.

Domestic abuse is one person taking control of another and using power over them. Children are affected by domestic abuse in the home, either by seeing abuse or by being abused themselves (child abuse). If this happens it becomes a child protection issue.

Police in Scotland recorded 64,967 incidents of domestic abuse in 2024-25*.

*www.gov.scot

How can Riverside help?

We believe everyone has the right to live without fear or abuse in their own homes and communities. We want to make sure that our customers can gain the best support and guidance when needed most. Our aim is to support you and your family in the right way that suits your personal needs but our main priority is to keep you safe.

If you report something to us, we will make sure the information remains confidential and any conversations we have with you will be carried out in private. We can even meet face to face at a time and safe location that is convenient to you. Through our specialist services we may be able to:

  • Refer you to the best and most suitable organisations for greater support and counselling services within our network.
  • Arrange for safer improvements to your home (this may be a change of locks or a direct phone line to the police).
  • Work with our partners such as the police to investigate if any crime has been committed.
  • Look to evict the perpetrator from the property through court action.
  • If you are at immediate risk, provide assistance to access the relevant local authority homeless department to access temporary accommodation, and assist you in finding somewhere new to live that is safe, self-contained and fully furnished.
  • Support you with criminal justice and court processes when taking legal action against perpetrators of abuse.

We also have a number of specialist refuges for Domestic Abuse, where we are able to offer support for children involved with domestic abuse including awareness training, after school clubs and organised activities as well as support for perpetrators to change their abusive behaviours.

Click here for help, support, and guidance contact details

Refuge
National charity for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. 
www.refuge.org.uk

Scottish Women’s Aid
Charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Phone: 0800 027 1234
Website: www.womensaid.scot

Galop
LGBT+ anti-violence charity. 
Phone: 0800 999 5428
www.galop.org.uk

NSPCC
National children’s charity
Phone: 0808 800 5000
www.nspcc.org.uk

Karma Nirvana
A specialist charity for victims and survivors committed to ending honour-based abuse in the UK.
Phone: 0800 5999 247
karmanirvana.org.uk

Savera
A leading charity working to end honour-based abuse and other culturally specific abuse and harmful practices.
Phone: 0800 107 0726
www.saverauk.co.uk

Mankind
A specialist charity focussing on male victims of domestic abuse.
Phone: 0808 800 1170
mankind.org.uk

Victim Support Scotland
Support available to anyone affected by crime.
Phone: 0800 160  1985
www.victimsupport.scot

Suzy Lamplugh (stalking cases)
Support with a specific focus on stalking and harassment.
Phone: 0808 802 0300
www.suzylamplugh.org

Revenge Porn Helpline
A UK service supporting adults who are experiencing intimate image abuse, also known as, revenge porn.
revengepornhelpline.org.uk

What to do if you are experiencing domestic abuse

If it is an emergency (a crime is happening, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, someone is injured, you are being threatened or you are in immediate danger) you should always call 999.

We take all reports of domestic abuse extremely seriously. Our aim is to support you and your family in the right way that suits your personal needs but our main priority is to keep you safe.

National Domestic Violence helpline Contact Riverside

Remember that:

  • You are not alone.
  • Assault is a criminal offence – no one has no right to beat, verbally or sexually abuse you or your children.
  • You are not responsible for the abuse and you are not to blame – it is your abuser who must take responsibility for their actions.
  • Violence is never the way to solve conflict in the home.
  • You can survive and move on from an abusive relationship.
  • You shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.
  • We are here to help.