ESCAPE

Escape doesn’t always mean leaving physically — though it can.

It means beginning to create space between you and the control that you are experiencing.

That might simply mean opening a secret bank account.

It might mean making a safety plan.

It might mean saving a document somewhere your partner can’t find it.

Small steps are real steps.

Some financial or digital changes may alert the person harming you.

Opening a new bank account, redirecting money, changing passwords, checking a device or restricting a joint account could be noticed.

Only take a step when it feels safe for you.

Where possible:

use a device and email account the other person cannot access;
speak to a domestic abuse specialist before making major changes;
make a personal safety plan based on your circumstances;
remember that private browsing and the Quick Exit button may not remove every trace of your activity.

You do not have to complete every step. Start with the action that feels safest and most useful today.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you cannot speak on a mobile call, listen to the operator and press 55 when prompted.

Open a new bank account at a different bank from any account your partner has access to. Use a safe address if possible.
Redirect any income, wages, or benefits to this new account.
Contact your bank’s specialist team. Most major UK banks have staff trained specifically for this. Ask for the ‘vulnerability team’ or ‘financial abuse team’.
Ask about Safe Spaces - bank branches offer private rooms where you can make calls and access support without having to explain why.
Check your credit report for free at Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Look for accounts or loans you didn’t open.
If you find accounts you didn’t open, report them to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) and the lender directly.
Ask your bank about de-linking from your partner (financial disassociation) this separates your credit history from theirs.

TSB Flee Fund - if you bank with TSB, you can access up to £500 immediately in branch or by phone. No repayment needed.
NatWest Circle Fund - up to £500 in grants delivered through frontline domestic abuse services.
Travel to Refuge - Women’s Aid partners with travel companies to cover the cost of train or coach travel to a refuge. Ask when you call 0808 2000 247.
Your local council may have a hardship fund or Discretionary Housing Payment, ask Citizens Advice to help you apply.

That is okay. Leaving takes time and careful planning.

The most useful things you can do right now is:

The FAR Project’s Economic Safety Kit has a step-by-step checklist for preparing safely before you are ready to go.