No one should live in fear of abuse from a partner, former partner, or member of their household. North Star is committed to tackling domestic abuse and offering support to anyone affected.
If you’re in immediate danger, call 999.
You can also contact the police in confidence on 101.
How we can help
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, you don’t have to face it alone.
We offer a safe and private service for anyone affected, whatever your gender.
A member of our team will contact you within 24 hours after you report domestic abuse. If you’d like, you can speak to someone of the same sex. We’ll listen, help you look at your options, and support you in the way that feels right for you.
We can help you speak to the police or other support services, make your home safer, or find another place to stay if you can’t stay where you are. All meetings are private, and we’ll agree together on the safest way to keep in touch.
We’ll never contact the person responsible for the abuse without your consent, unless it’s needed for safety or legal reasons. Your safety is the top priority.
We’ll only share information if we have to - for example, to protect you or someone else from harm.
Your Home and Your Safety
Where someone has been violent, abusive, or threatening, we can take action to protect others and make sure homes remain safe.
If you want to stay in your home, we can help make it more secure, for example, by fitting stronger locks, alarms, or reinforced windows. We work closely with the police and local safety teams to do this quickly and discreetly.
If you need to move
If you can’t safely stay in your home, we’ll help you explore other options.
You’ll never be pressured into moving out of your home.
In some cases, we can offer a priority transfer to another North Star property. If that isn’t possible, we’ll work closely with local councils and support services to help you find safe emergency accommodation.
We’ll make sure you have the right support in place and stay in touch throughout the process.
Where to get support
You can also contact these services directly for advice or help:
National Domestic Abuse Helpline – Free 24-hour service run by Women’s Aid and Refuge
0808 2000 247 | nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Harbour – Support for men and women, including both victims and perpetrators
03000 20 25 25 | myharbour.org.uk
My Sister’s Place – Support for women experiencing domestic abuse
01642 241864 | mysistersplace.org.uk
HALO Project – Specialists in honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and FGM
01642 683045 | haloproject.org.uk
Domestic abuse isn't always physical
Examples of domestic abuse can include:
- Coercive or controlling behaviour: Making someone feel scared, isolated, or unable to make decisions.
- Emotional or psychological abuse: Threats, humiliation, intimidation, bullying, or controlling who someone sees or talks to.
- Physical abuse: Hitting, slapping, pushing, or using weapons.
- Sexual abuse: Any non-consenting sexual activity.
- Financial abuse: Controlling someone’s money or access to resources.
- Forced marriage: Being pressured to marry against your will.
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Harming or removing female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
- Honour-based abuse: Punishing someone for supposedly bringing ‘shame’ on their family.
- Stalking or harassment: Following, spying on, or threatening someone, including online.
Our commitment
We have zero tolerance for domestic abuse and will always respond with empathy, sensitivity, and confidentiality.
North Star is proud to be signed up to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Make a Stand pledge, showing our commitment to supporting both customers and colleagues.
How we fulfil the pledge's commitments:
- We have a policy in relation to supporting people experiencing domestic abuse
- We have developed a HR policy specifically in relation to supporting Staff experiencing domestic abuse
- Our front-line staff have been trained by Harbour to recognise the signs of domestic abuse, and regular refreshers are arranged bi-annually
- We have 6 nominated domestic abuse champions across the organisation, both male and female
- We have dedicated safeguarding lead officers
- We have updated our intranet to promote our commitment to support staff, along with a toolkit with valuable information
- We post regular updates and information via our website and social media for tenants to access
- We deliver a policy overview to all managers
- We include an overview of the Make a Stand pledge to all new staff via their induction