Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. It is very common. 

Anyone can be a victim

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Men and women can be victims or perpetrators in heterosexual or same-sex relationships, but in the majority of reported cases, domestic abuse is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men. Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.

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Domestic abuse is widespread

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The prevalence of domestic abuse in society means that whether you are aware of it or not you are likely to have players with lived experience of domestic abuse either as a victim or as a perpetrator. 

You may only become aware at a crisis point in a player’s life, for example, if they disclose that they have hit their partner, or they do not feel safe to go home. It’s important to ensure they have access to specialist support at the earliest opportunity

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The Men's Advice Line