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We are currently working to make the digital download of This isn’t what love should feel like easily accessible to students and staff at UK universities. Do you work at a university? Help us get this resource to the right people!

This isn’t what love should feel like has been produced by FWFC working with Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid and writer Nafeesa Hamid. The aim of this resource is to help more people to understand and recognise domestic abuse, and to access support. It combines factual information with poetry, myth busting, helplines, advice on how to offer support to someone who may be experiencing domestic abuse, and what to do if you are worried about your own relationship. The resource is also a call to action, aiming to change the outdated conversation around domestic abuse. It offers ideas and guidance useful to anyone of any gender who wants to be an ally, and join the movement to end domestic abuse.

This isn’t what love should feel like includes information about UK domestic abuse helplines, webchat and email support services for adults of all ages, gender identities and sexual orientations.

The free pdf of This isn’t what love should feel like can be easily uploaded to the university intranet and other digital spaces accessed by students and staff. The resource can work alongside any existing provision or procedures that your university has in place to support people experiencing domestic abuse.

To help you make This isn’t what love should feel like part of your university’s health & wellbeing support offer, contact Katy for more information.

Our domestic abuse awareness raising zine This isn’t what love should feel like has been going out far and wide to individuals, groups, organisations and workplaces in Birmingham and up and down the UK.

If you would like a copy (or copies) of the zine, get in touch. Zines, postage and packing are all free of charge.

If you’d prefer a digital version, you can download a free copy here.

We are very keen to push the digital download of This isn’t what love should feel like to UK universities. If you work at a university or college and would like more information to help you to promote the zine, please contact Katy here.

We worked with Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWA) and poet Nafeesa Hamid to make the zine, which features new poetry from Nafeesa and contributions from BSWA. It was designed by artist Sarah Taylor Silverwood, written and edited by Katy Sadler, and printed in Birmingham by The Holodeck.

For those seeking help and support, the zine includes helpline and webchat service information for Birmingham, the West Midlands and UK wide, which you can also find here.

Ending domestic abuse is everyone’s responsibility. Just knowing more about domestic abuse can help to change things.

This isn’t what love should feel like is generously supported by Arts Council England.

We worked with Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWA) and poet Nafeesa Hamid to make This isn’t what love should feel like, a domestic abuse awareness raising zine and social media campaign.

The campaign features new poetry by Birmingham based poet Nafeesa Hamid and contributions from BSWA, along with helplines, factual information, myth busting and ways you can join the movement to end domestic abuse. It also includes advice about how to offer support to someone who may be experiencing domestic abuse, and what to do if you are worried about your own relationship.

Go to This isn’t what love should feel like to find out more and download your free copy of the zine. If you would like a hard copy of the zine, get in touch and we will post one out to you.

This isn’t what love should feel like is generously supported by Arts Council England.

Do you need someone to talk to?
Access free, confidential helplines and webchat services in Birmingham, the West Midlands and UK wide.

If you’re worried about your partner seeing what you have looked at online, use ‘private browsing mode’ on your phone or device, which won’t save your search history. You can find more information about keeping safe online here.

Most websites offering support for domestic abuse have an ‘exit page’ button that will close the webpage quickly.

Birmingham & the West Midlands

Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid
Confidential helpline: 7 days a week, 9.15am to 5.15pm 0808 800 0028
Webchat: Mon-Fri 10am – 4pm
https://bswaid.org
info@bswaid.org

Black Country Women’s Aid
Confidential helpline: (24/7) 0121 552 6448
For advice or access to support services: Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm 0121 553 0090
Text or WhatsApp: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm 07384 466 181
https://blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk
info@blackcountrywomenaid.co.uk

Haven Refuge Wolverhampton
Confidential helpline: (24/7) 08000 194 400
WhatsApp Helpline: Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm 07719 558 183
Live Chat: Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm
https://havenrefuge.org.uk
referralpoint@havenrefuge.org.uk

National

Women’s Aid
Webchat: 7 days a week, 10am – 6pm
https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk

Refuge
National domestic abuse helpline: (24/7) 0808 2000 247
Webchat: Mon-Fri 3pm – 10pm
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/en/Chat-to-us-online
Support in BSL: Mon-Fri 10am – 6pm
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/en/bsl

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Galop)
Confidential helpline: Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm, Wed & Thu 10am – 8pm 0800 9995428
Webchat: Wed & Thu 5pm – 8pm
https://galop.org.uk/get-help/helplines/
help@galop.org.uk

Respect – Men’s advice line
For men affected by domestic abuse: Mon-Fri 9am – 8pm 0808 801 0327
Email support: Mon-Fri 9am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 10am – 12pm & 4pm – 6pm
info@mensadviceline.org.uk
https://mensadviceline.org.uk/

The Mix – Essential support for under 25s
Confidential helpline: 7 days a week, 3pm – 12am 0808 808 4994
Webchat: 7 days a week, 3pm – 12am
https://www.themix.org.uk/
Crisis messenger: (24/7) text THEMIX to 85258

If something doesn’t feel right, there are people out there who will listen and who will believe you. When you pick up the phone to speak to someone, we will believe what you say, and take it from there to support you in whatever way you need.
Anna, BSWA

Download your free copy of This isn’t what love should feel like.

This isn’t what love should feel like has been generously supported by Arts Council England.

End Violence Against Women have responded to the launch of the inquiry into systemic failings that enabled serving Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens to abuse his power to abduct, rape and murder Sarah Everard. They have also issued a set of demands to ensure this inquiry is not a missed opportunity to make real and meaningful changes to the epidemic of violence against women that prevails throughout society and policing.

‘Political attention to the violence against women and girls perpetrated, normalised and covered up within our police forces is long overdue. But by focusing on the actions of one perpetrator and not examining the underlying culture of policing that has failed women and girls and enabled perpetrators within its ranks, we are concerned this inquiry will be a missed opportunity to address wider failings across all police forces, as well as the broader societal issues underpinning male violence against women and girls.’

Read their full statement and list of demands here.