When living in an abusive relationship, the safety of you, and any children, should always come first.
A safety plan is: a personalised, practical plan
- That helps you stay safe while in the relationship
- Preparing to leave
- After you’ve left
This guide will walk you through the essential steps to create a safety plan for your needs. Our supportive team of staff here at Juno can help you with this plan, too. A good way to make first contact is through our helpline, which is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Call for free and in confidence on: 0808 800 0340
Recognise the Risks
The first step in creating a safety plan is understanding the potential risks you face. Abuse can escalate quickly, especially when an abuser feels they are losing control. Consider the times and situations when you feel most at risk, such as during arguments, when alcohol or drugs are involved, or when the abuser feels stressed.
Safe Spaces in Your Home
Identify safe areas in your home where you can go if you feel threatened. Choose spaces with an exit route and avoid areas like the kitchen or bathroom where potential weapons may be present. If possible, keep a hidden phone and emergency numbers accessible in these spaces.
Pack an Emergency Bag
Prepare a bag with essentials in case you need to leave in a hurry. Check out our blog on this for more useful information here
Briefly, try to include items like:
- Identification
- Bank cards
- Cash
- Keys
- Medication
- A change of clothes
- Important documents (e.g., birth certificates)
- Keep this bag in a safe, accessible place or with someone you trust.
Develop a Communication Plan
Share your safety plan with a trusted friend, family member and any professional that is helping you. Here at Juno, we can support you in this. For friends or family, agree on a code word or phrase to signal that you’re in danger. If we are supporting you, we will arrange this with you.
Keep a list of emergency contacts stored securely on your phone, written down on paper or memorised.
Plan Your Exit
If leaving is part of your plan, think through the logistics. Decide on the safest time to leave, considering when the abuser is least likely to notice. You can arrange transport and a safe place to go if you are able to, or we will do this for you. We will get you, any children, and any animals to safety.
Involve Professionals
If you’re in the Nottingham City or Nottinghamshire area, we can help you with all aspects of leaving an abusive relationship. If you are elsewhere, contact local domestic abuse services for advice and support. They could provide resources, help with legal options, and offer guidance on staying safe. See below for our contact details and national ones too.
Technology Safety
Abusers often monitor phones, social media, and online activity. Use a secure device when researching resources or communicating with support services. Consider changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication on your accounts. If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. We have created some guides that will take you through this step-by-step. Our telephone helpline and email team can also help.
Here are the links to the other blogs:
Click here for Securing Your Devices
Click here for About Sharing Your Location Online
Click here for What Is Spyware
Remember, a safety plan is a living document. Review and update it regularly as your circumstances change. Above all, trust your instincts and prioritise your safety.
Final Thoughts
You can do this and we will help you every step of the way.
Juno Help
Calls to our helpline are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills. Our friendly team of women understand your situation. Many of them are survivors who have found freedom – and you can too. There is no pressure and everything is confidential.
Helpline: 0808 800 0340
Sometimes our helpline is busy and you might not get through the first time, so please try again. We will always call you back if you leave a message stating it is safe to do so and if you leave us a safe contact number in your message.
If you are hearing impaired, text “Relay/NGT” to 18001 0808 800 0340. This option is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
You can also email us on [email protected] 9 am – 9 pm.
Please note, we may not be able to respond to emails straight away, but will try to reply within 24 hours.
National Help
If you’re further afield, you could contact other charities like Women’s Aid, who have instant messaging and email contact on their website: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) also provide confidential support. They can help you make a safety plan, find safe housing, and access legal protections.
The deaf health charity Signhealth also runs a domestic abuse support service, DeafHope, using British Sign Language (BSL).