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.
On this page
- Help with domestic abuse or sexual violence
- Refuge accommodation
- Change starts with you
- Be the friend who makes a difference
- Portsmouth VAWG strategy
- Visit the Safer Together Hants hub
Help with domestic abuse or sexual violence
If you are worried about your safety or someone else’s, please call 999.
Stop Domestic Abuse
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.
If you’re under 16
- If you are under 16 and want to talk about domestic abuse, please call Childline on 0800 1111.
- If you are aged 13 to 15 and in an unhealthy relationship, you can call Stop Domestic Abuse on 023 9206 5494 or email portsmouthreferral@stopdomesticabuse.uk.
Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS)
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:
- Email: parcs@family-action.org.uk
- Phone: 02392 669513 (during office hours)
- Helpline: 0300 222 5735
- Mondays, 11am to 2pm
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4.30pm to 8pm
- You can leave a voicemail if no one answers.
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
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:
- help you decide what to do next, including whether to tell the police
- support you through the legal process if you choose to report it
- give advice about your health care options
Yellow Door also has ISVAs for children and young people, families, and men.
- Phone: 023 8063 6312
- Email: info@yellowdoor.org.uk
Refuge accommodation
If you need a safe place to stay because of domestic abuse:
- Monday to Thursday evenings (outside normal working hours): Call 07771 125991
- Any time, 24 hours a day: Call 0330 016 5112 and follow the instructions on the answerphone
You can also visit the Stop Domestic Abuse website for more information.
More advice and support
Local support contacts
- Housing Needs & Advice – 023 9283 4989
- Inscape (LGBTQ+ support) – 023 9265 5077 or 023 9229 8950
- Men’s Aid – Free advice and support for men in abusive relationships. Call 0333 567 0556
- Naval Personnel & Family Service – 023 9272 2712 or visit the Royal Navy website
- Portsmouth Women’s Refuge – 023 9229 1034
- Social Services – 023 9283 9111
- Women’s Aid – Free advice and support for women in abusive relationships. Call 0808 2000 247
National support contacts
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24 hours) – 0808 2000 247
- ChildLine – 0800 1111
- NSPCC Child Protection Line – 0800 800 500
- Victim Care Service (Victim Support) – 0808 178 1641 or email hub.hiow@victimsupport.org.uk
- Victim Support (24/7) – 0808 168 9111 or chat online
- GOV.UK – Visit the GOV.UK website for national support
Change starts with you
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.
Help to change your behaviour
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.
More support
The Hampshire Safer Together Hub has more information and links to help you make positive changes.
Be the friend who makes a difference
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.