Action against cultic abuse

Resources

Immediate Help / Crisis Support

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If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please seek emergency help straight away. This section lists 24/7 helplines, crisis services, and emergency contacts. You’ll find confidential support for mental health crises, domestic abuse, suicidal thoughts, and urgent safety concerns—whether for yourself or someone you care about.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK emergency services). If you are unable to speak, press 55 so the call handler knows the call is genuine. They will locate you.

National 24/7 Helplines

Regional Crisis Lines

Leaving or Escaping a Coercive Group

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Leaving a controlling or abusive group or organisation can be one of the most difficult and dangerous steps a person takes. This section offers practical guidance, support organisations, and safe housing options to help you plan and carry out an exit safely. No matter where you are in the process (thinking, planning, or actively leaving) there are people ready to support you.

National Homelessness & Emergency Accommodation Support (UK)

  • Shelter
    Website: https://england.shelter.org.uk
    Helpline (England): 0808 800 4444
    Scotland: https://scotland.shelter.org.uk
    Wales: https://sheltercymru.org.uk
    Northern Ireland: https://housingadviceni.org
    About: Shelter provides expert advice, legal support, and emergency guidance for anyone facing homelessness or unsafe housing. They can help people find temporary or emergency accommodation and understand their rights.
  • Crisis
    Website: https://www.crisis.org.uk
    Helpline: 0300 636 1967
    Email: enquiries@crisis.org.uk
    About: Crisis supports people experiencing homelessness through advice, housing, employment and health services. They run Crisis Skylight centres across the UK and offer emergency winter provision in major cities.
  • Centrepoint (Young People 16–25)
    Website: https://centrepoint.org.uk
    Helpline: 0808 800 0661
    About: Centrepoint provides emergency accommodation, supported housing, and outreach services for young people aged 16–25 who are homeless or at risk. They operate hostels and move-on housing nationally.
  • St Mungo’s
    Website: https://www.mungos.org
    General Enquiries: 020 3856 6000
    About: St Mungo’s runs emergency hostels and outreach teams helping people sleeping rough across London, Bristol, Oxford, Brighton, and other cities. They provide rapid access to safe accommodation and support to move on.
  • The Salvation Army
    Website: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/homelessness
    General Enquiries: 020 7367 4500
    About: The Salvation Army operates Lifehouses (emergency accommodation centres) across the UK. They offer immediate shelter, food, and support services to rebuild lives and regain independence.
  • Emmaus UK
    Website: https://emmaus.org.uk
    Phone: 0300 303 7555
    About: Emmaus communities offer long-term accommodation, work, and support for people who have experienced homelessness. Many local Emmaus branches can help connect individuals with emergency shelter options.
  • GesherEU
    Website: Home – GesherEU
    About: GesherEU helps people who have taken the decision to leave their ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in the UK (or who may have come to the UK from elsewhere in Europe) to integrate into the wider world with a variety of support options available, offering non-judgemental, confidential support.
  • Olive Leaf Network
    Website: Olive Leaf Network International
    About: Olive Leaf Network provides aid and advocacy for former members of high-demand religious groups. Many online resources available including a helpful Thinking of Leaving booklet.
  • StreetLink (England & Wales)
    Website: https://www.streetlink.org.uk
    Purpose: Connects people sleeping rough to local outreach teams. Anyone can use StreetLink to alert services to someone in need of help tonight.
    About: When you make an alert, local authorities and charities are notified to find the individual and offer emergency accommodation.
  • The Albert Kennedy Trust (akt)
    Website: https://www.akt.org.uk
    Helpline: 0800 689 3101
    Email: gethelp@akt.org.uk
    About: Supports LGBTQ+ young people aged 16–25 who are facing homelessness or unsafe homes. Provides emergency accommodation, mentoring, and longer-term housing solutions.
  • Depaul UK
    Website: https://uk.depaulcharity.org
    Phone: 020 7939 1220
    About: Offers emergency nightstop accommodation (volunteer host homes) for young people in crisis, plus supported housing and mediation services.
  • Women’s Aid
    Website: https://www.womensaid.org.uk
    24-hour Helpline: 0808 2000 247
    About: Provides emergency refuge accommodation for women and children escaping abuse. The national helpline can arrange same-day emergency placements across the UK.
    Scottish Women’s Aid – Scottish Women’s Aid
    Welsh Women’s Aid – Home : Welsh Women’s Aid
    NI Women’s Aid – Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland
  • Refuge (Domestic Abuse Helpline)
    Website: https://www.refuge.org.uk
    Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours, free, confidential)
    About: Works nationally to provide refuge accommodation, community outreach, and advocacy for those escaping domestic violence or coercive control.
  • Homeless Link
    Website: https://www.homeless.org.uk
    Email: info@homelesslink.org.uk
    About: A national membership organisation for homelessness services, with an interactive map of shelters and emergency accommodation providers across the UK.
  • YMCA England & Wales
    Website: https://www.ymca.org.uk/find-your-ymca
    About: The YMCA operates hostels and supported housing across the UK. Many offer short-term emergency accommodation for young people and adults in crisis.
  • Local Authority Homelessness Teams
    Website: https://www.gov.uk/homelessness-help-from-council
    About: Every UK council has a duty to assist those who are homeless or at risk. The government website allows users to find their local housing team and emergency out-of-hours contact details.

LGBT+, gender specific specialist support

Modern slavery / exploitation (if the group is trafficking or forcing labour)

General victim support / crisis

Region/County Specific

Useful UK options you can mention

Recovery & Support Services

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Healing takes time, but you don’t have to do it alone. This section connects you to counselling, peer support, and services that help rebuild your life after leaving a coercive or harmful situation. Whether you need trauma-informed therapy, a support group, or help with day-to-day needs, there are trusted services to walk alongside you.

Specialist Therapists and Counsellors

Please contact the Family Survival Trust directly for a list of therapists and counsellors who are aware of the cultic dynamic.

Trusted support for people leaving coercive/high-control groups

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Navigating the legal system or recovering financially after coercive control can feel overwhelming. This section provides links to free or low-cost legal advice, organisations that can help with restraining orders, custody, financial abuse, debt, or immigration concerns, and information about your legal rights and protections under UK law.

Stalking-specific advocacy

Knowing the law can be empowering. This section outlines key legal terms, UK laws on coercive control and abuse, and your rights as a survivor. It also includes safeguarding policies, government guidelines, and other formal definitions that can be helpful when speaking to professionals, police, or legal advisors.

Specialist Support

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Understanding coercive control is key to recognising and resisting it. This section contains informative articles, videos, podcasts, and training materials to help survivors, families, and professionals learn more about cults, high-control groups, grooming tactics, and psychological abuse. Empower yourself and others through knowledge.

LGBTQ+

Ethnic minority–led specialist services

Arranged/Forced marriage & Honour-Based Abuse

Older people (leaving abusive/control situations, including family-based abuse)

Modern slavery / trafficking (including labour, sexual, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude)

Young adults