If you have to leave your home

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Packing an emergency bag

It can be helpful to keep together some essential items for if you need to flee in an emergency, if it is safe for you to do so and you are able to find a safe place these can be stored (for example at a neighbour, or friend's house). 

Items it may be helpful to include could be:   

• Emergency numbers
• Phone and phone charger
• Money
• Clothes
• House keys and car keys
• Important documents such as your marriage certificate, birth certificate(s), court orders, mortgage/tenancy documents, passport, National Insurance Number, driving licence, benefit and bank books and health record(s)
• Essential medicines for you, your children (and pets, if possible)

Finding a safe place to stay

It may be that fleeing to a friend or family member's home is a safe option for you, but this will depend on whether your abuser knows where you are likely to go. If this isn't safe for you, there are safe houses (called refuges) where you can go, and you can also access help to find safe accommodation - information can be found on our housing options page.