If you, or someone else, is under pressure of a forced marriage then there is support you can access for help and advice. The sources below provide information around forced marriage, and how to recognise the signs of it, and what to do if someone needs help.
The FMU operates a public helpline to provide advice and support to victims of forced marriage.
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is a British Human Rights Charity supporting victims of Honour Based Abuse and Forced Marriage.
Karma Nirvana operate a national helpline that has helped thousands of victims. They have multilingual call handlers who are highly experienced and well trained, they understand the complex and emotional issues around honour and shame. Some of their team are survivors themselves and have experienced honour-based abuse first hand.
Telephone: 0800 5999247 (Open 9am - 9pm Weekdays & 10am - 4pm Weekends) Email: info@karmanirvana.org.uk
Facebook: Karma Nirvana page Twitter: @KNFMHBV
JAN Trust
JAN Trust are an award winning charity who led the 'Against Forced Marriages' campaign. They cater for disadvantaged and marginalised women from minority and hard-to-reach groups and work on a range of issues. Preventing forced marriage is one of their top priorities.
They have their own confidential helpline to support victims who fear being pressured into a forced marriage or are already in one. They provide victims with all the information they need on forced marriages, discuss the options available to them and support them at every step of the way. They offer free confidential advice and assistance to:
- Victims who have been forced into marriage.
- Those at risk of being forced into marriage.
- People worried about friends or relatives.
- Teachers or professionals working with actual or potential victims of forced marriage.
FREE helpline number: 0800 141 2994 (Calls will be received on Wednesdays and Thursdays, between 10.30am – 4.30pm. On all other days an answering machine will be in service and ALL callers who leave a message will be contacted if requested).
Facebook: JAN Trust Twitter: @ForcedMarriages
Freedom Charity
Freedom Charity were instrumental in making forced marriage a crime in the UK. Freedom Charity have a 24 hour, seven days a week helpline. The Helpline and Text line are manned by trained professionals to help victims of forced marriage and their friends who are seeking help, support and advice.
24 Hour Helpline: 0845 607 0133 Free Textline: Text '4freedom' to 88802
Facebook: Freedom Charity page Twitter: @freedomcharity
Staffordshire Women's Aid
Staffordshire Women's Aid is a specialist service who provide Domestic and Sexual Violence Services. They are committed to equality and diversity and aim to provide a service for all regardless of ethnicity, sexuality, disability, religion or class. While their work is situated within the Violence Against Women and Girls Agenda they also offer services to male victims which are appropriately provided in safe separate venues.
24 Hour Helpline: 0870 2700 123
Facebook: Staffordshire Women's Aid Page Twitter: @StaffsWomensAid
Staffordshire Victim Gateway
Staffordshire Victim Gateway is a free and confidential service that provides information, advice, or practical and emotional support, to all victims of crime in Staffordshire, even if you haven’t reported the crime to the police.
Forced marriage is illegal in England and Wales. This includes:
- taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the forced marriage takes place)
- marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether they’re pressured to or not)
Telephone: 0330 0881 339 Email: help@staffsvictimsgateway.org.uk
Facebook: Staffordshire Restorative Justice Hub Twitter: @StaffsRJHub
Please note that Staffordshire University is not responsible for the quality, accuracy or effectiveness of the services, information or advice provided by organisations external to the University.