United Kingdom
Helplines, statutory routes, and cult-recovery networks for survivors, current members, and concerned family in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The UK has well-developed statutory routes for the most-acute concerns associated with high-control groups — domestic abuse and coercive control (criminalised under the Serious Crime Act 2015 s.76), modern slavery and forced labour (Modern Slavery Act 2015), child safeguarding (Children Act 1989 / Children and Social Work Act 2017), and charity-sector oversight (Charity Commission for England and Wales; OSCR in Scotland). The cult-recovery NGO ecosystem is thinner than statutory provision, but the established networks listed below routinely handle UK cases.
Where money, documents, or immigration status are being controlled, the modern-slavery helpline is often the right first call even where the situation does not obviously feel like trafficking — the helpline routes appropriately without committing you to a formal referral.
If you are in immediate danger
- Emergency services· 24/7999Police, ambulance, fire — for immediate threat to life or safety. 112 also works.
What situation are you in?
If you are worried about someone in a high-control group
Sustain low-pressure contact. Learn the specific group. Avoid confrontation. Position yourself as a soft landing. The /guides/what-to-do-if-loved-one-joined-a-cult guide covers the long version. Loved-one guide →
If you are inside a high-control group
Talk to a single trusted person outside the group. Open a group-invisible communication channel. Begin mapping financial, housing, and employment dependencies. The leaving guide has the longer version. Leaving guide →
If you recently left
Give yourself a long enough horizon for recovery. Religious-trauma-aware therapy materially helps. Build ordinary relationships outside the tradition. Rebuild-identity guide →
If children are involved
Children's situations are not adult-exit-planning. Statutory child-safeguarding helplines and family-law specialists are the appropriate route. Children guide →
If money, documents, or housing are controlled
Document control overlaps with trafficking and domestic-abuse frameworks. The specialist helplines listed on this page are the right first call. Document-control guide →
Domestic abuse and coercive control
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)· 24/70808 2000 247 WebsiteConfidential 24/7 support for women experiencing domestic abuse, including coercive control. Translation services available; partners and family can also call for advice.
- Men's Advice Line0808 8010 327 WebsiteHelpline for men experiencing domestic abuse from a partner or family member.
- Galop (LGBT+ domestic abuse)0800 999 5428 WebsiteSpecialist support for LGBT+ survivors of domestic abuse, hate crime, and sexual violence.
- Karma Nirvana0800 5999 247 WebsiteForced-marriage and honour-based abuse helpline. Routes appropriately for high-control religious or family contexts.
Modern slavery and trafficking
- Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline (Unseen)· 24/708000 121 700 WebsiteConfidential 24/7 helpline. Appropriate where document, financial, employment, or immigration control is part of the situation. Reporting routes do not necessarily trigger enforcement against the survivor.
Child safeguarding
- NSPCC0808 800 5000 WebsiteHelpline for adults concerned about a child. Will advise on whether and how to report; can refer to statutory child-protective services.
- Childline· 24/70800 1111 WebsiteFree confidential helpline for children and young people up to 19. Available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
Mental-health crisis
Cult-recovery networks
- Family Survival TrustUK family-support charity specialising in cult and high-control-group issues. Family advice line; trustees and volunteers include experienced ex-members and clinicians.
- Open Minds FoundationUK-registered charity focused on undue influence; runs educational outreach and signposts specialist support.
- ICSA UKInternational Cultic Studies Association — US-headquartered but with UK members and conferences; clinician referral lists and survivor literature.
Legal and safeguarding routes
- Charity Commission for England and WalesRegulator of registered charities in England and Wales. Complaint routes for safeguarding, financial impropriety, or governance failure.
- OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator)Scottish charity regulator. Equivalent complaint routes.
- Rights of Women020 7251 6577 WebsiteLegal advice line for women, particularly around family law, immigration, and criminal law.
Therapy and counsellor referral
- BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)Directory of accredited counsellors and psychotherapists. Filter by 'religious trauma' or 'cult recovery' where available.
- NHS Talking TherapiesFree NHS talking-therapies referral, self-referral or via GP. Waiting times vary by area.
Printable quick-reference checklist
- If immediate danger: 999.
- Modern slavery / document / financial control: 08000 121 700.
- Domestic abuse / coercive control: 0808 2000 247.
- Children at risk: NSPCC 0808 800 5000.
- Mental-health crisis: Samaritans 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.
- Cult-specific family advice: Family Survival Trust.
- Charity Commission complaint route if the group is a registered charity.
- Therapy: BACP directory for religious-trauma-aware counsellors.
This page is educational and not legal, medical, or clinical advice. CLCI Hub does not endorse or vouch for any specific service. See the Legal Disclaimer for the full statement. Found a helpline that has changed? Submit a correction.