Domestic abuse is a serious problem in Portsmouth and affects many people. It mostly affects women, but anyone – no matter their gender – can be hurt by abuse.
Sexual violence doesn’t happen as often, but when it does, it can cause a lot of harm. It can affect the person, their family, and even the wider community.
If you are worried about your safety or someone else’s, please call 999.
Stop Domestic Abuse provides support to those experiencing domestic abuse, those who recognise they are abusive in their relationship and want to change, and support to children who witness domestic abuse.
PARCS gives free counselling and support to anyone in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire who has been hurt by rape, sexual abuse as a child, or any other sexual violence—no matter when it happened.
They also offer special counselling for people of all genders who have experienced domestic abuse.
If you’ve had an unwanted sexual experience and need help, an ISVA can support you. It doesn’t matter when it happened or who you are—they’re here to help.
Yellow Door offers a free ISVA service. They can:
Yellow Door also has ISVAs for children and young people, families, and men.
If you need a safe place to stay because of domestic abuse:
You can also visit the Stop Domestic Abuse website for more information.
Sometimes people say or do things that hurt others. You might have made someone feel upset, scared or uncomfortable – even if you didn’t mean to.
If you think this has happened, it’s okay to admit it. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It shows you care and want to do better.
Looking back at your actions takes courage. You might do this because someone told you they were hurt, others noticed your behaviour, or you realised things could have been handled differently.
Whatever the reason, choosing to learn and grow is a good and responsible step. Help is available if you want to make a change.
If you’re aged 16 or over and feel you’ve been abusive or controlling in a relationship, and want to change, Stop Domestic Abuse can help.
They offer support to help you change how you think, feel and act. You can get help one-to-one or in a group.
Call 023 9206 5494 to find out more.
The Hampshire Safer Together Hub has more information and links to help you make positive changes.
Domestic abuse and sexual violence can happen anywhere. But by working together, we can help stop it.
It’s not always easy to know what to do. Often, friends, family, or neighbours are the first to notice when something doesn’t seem right.
In some sad cases, people saw warning signs but didn’t know how to help. That’s why we offer free Active Bystander Training. It teaches you how to step in early, safely and confidently – before things get worse.
Being an active bystander doesn’t mean doing something big. It means being a kind friend, a caring neighbour, or a thoughtful family member. It’s about spotting the signs, knowing how to talk about it, and offering help.
When someone hurts others, they also hurt themselves and those around them. Friends don’t let friends cause harm.
Anyone can be an active bystander. It’s about everyday leadership – and it really can make a difference.
