Economic abuse is the control of a partner or ex-partner’s money, finances and the things that money can buy. It can leave victim-survivors feeling controlled, trapped or exploited, and makes it even harder for them to flee the abuser.
Victim-survivors of economic abuse are more likely to reach out to a family or friend or their bank for help before reporting to the police.
It’s likely you’ll know a friend, family member or colleague who is experiencing economic abuse. It is vital that more people understand this devastating form of abuse.
This Economic Abuse Awareness Day (Sunday 26 November), and throughout 16 Days of Activism, help us raise awareness of economic abuse, so all victim-survivors get the support they need, whoever they reach out to.
If your current or former partner has interfered with your money, financial situation or the things that money can buy in some way to limit your choices, we have information designed to help.
Economic abuse often occurs alongside other forms of abuse. It is commonly part of a pattern of behaviour called coercive control.
If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
If you are not in immediate danger but have concerns about your safety, there are domestic abuse helplines that you can call, many of which offer a 24-hour service.
We have information on economic abuse that may support you to identify economic abuse and the next steps that you might take. Find out more here.
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)’s new Banking Support Directory brings together information about the support that some of the UK’s major banks and building societies can offer if you have experienced economic abuse, and how you can get in touch with them.
Visit the Banking Support Directory
If you have experienced economic abuse, your bank or building society may be able to support you.
If it is safe to do so, speaking to someone at your bank or building society can help you take steps to regain control of your money. This may include de-linking your finances from those of the abuser and suggesting ways of ensuring that the abuser cannot access your banking information.
We have more information available about how your bank may be able to support you.
Currently, victim-survivors contact an average of five different creditors for support with their finances.
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)’s new Banking Support Directory brings together information about the support that some of the UK’s major banks and building societies can offer victim-survivors of economic abuse, and how they can get in touch.
If it is safe for a victim-survivor to do so, speaking to someone at their bank or building society can help them take steps to regain control of their money. This may include de-linking their finances from those of the abuser and suggesting ways of ensuring that the abuser cannot access their banking information.
Please share the Banking Support Directory throughout your organisation. All staff should know it is a resource to signpost victim-survivors to.
We have suggested wording and resources to help your share the directory internally available here.
Visit the Banking Support Directory
Please share the Banking Support Directory throughout 16 Days of Activism (Saturday 25 November to Sunday 10 December) on your social media feeds.
Download assets and social media posts here.
If you’d like to share the Banking Support Directory on social media, don’t forget to tag @SEAresource and use the hashtag #BanksSupportingSurvivors
As well as launching the Banking Support Directory, we’ll be sharing all the amazing work banks and building societies are doing to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse throughout 16 Days of Activism.
Is there something your organisation is doing? Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag above.
Designed for professionals working in financial services, this training will enable you to understand and recognise economic abuse as an issue and, specifically, how economic abuse occurs within the context of financial services.
This training is suitable for colleagues working in financial services in either customer-facing roles or for wider teams responsible for customer vulnerability, product design or specific departments e.g. Fraud teams, Mortgage teams.
Currently, victim-survivors contact an average of five different creditors for support with their finances.
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)’s new Banking Support Directory brings together information about the support that some of the UK’s major banks and building societies can offer victim-survivors of economic abuse, and how they can get in touch.
We have information available for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) professionals including how to screen for economic abuse, and a conversation kit on how to introduce economic abuse.
If it is safe for a victim-survivor to do so, speaking to someone at their bank or building society can help them take steps to regain control of their money. This may include de-linking their finances from those of the abuser and suggesting ways of ensuring that the abuser cannot access their banking information.
Please share the Banking Support Directory as a resource among the victim-survivors you work with.
Visit the Banking Support Directory
Please share the Banking Support Directory throughout 16 Days of Activism on your social media feeds.
Download assets and social media posts here.
If you’d like to share the Banking Support Directory on social media, don’t forget to tag @SEAresource and use the hashtags #BanksSupportingSurvivors or #16DaysOfActivism
SEA’s training is focused on building the capacity of frontline organisations to recognise economic abuse, advocate effectively for economic safety and address the systems issues that facilitate ongoing control by an abuser.
Economic abuse includes exerting control over income, spending, bank accounts, bills and borrowing. It can also include controlling access to and use of things like transport and technology, which allow us to work and stay connected, as well as property and daily essentials like food and clothing. It can include destroying items and refusing to contribute to household costs.
This type of abuse is a form of coercive and controlling behaviour. It can continue long after leaving an abuser and has lifelong effects.
If you want to understand economic abuse, you can watch this video, and read more on the page below.
One in five women in the UK has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner in the past 12 months. Over a third didn’t tell anyone at the time. Those who did were most likely to confide in family and friends.
If you’re concerned that someone you know may be experiencing economic abuse, we have information available.
Spotting the signs: A guide for friends and family
Currently, victim-survivors contact an average of five different creditors for support with their finances.
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)’s new Banking Support Directory brings together information about the support that some of the UK’s major banks and building societies can offer victim-survivors of economic abuse, and how they can get in touch.
If it is safe for a victim-survivor to do so, speaking to someone at their bank or building society can help them take steps to regain control of their money. This may include de-linking their finances from those of the abuser and suggesting ways of ensuring that the abuser cannot access their banking information.
Please share the Banking Support Directory throughout 16 Days of Activism (Saturday 25 November to Sunday 10 December) on your social media feeds.
Download assets and social media posts here.
If you’d like to share the Banking Support Directory on social media, don’t forget to tag @SEAresource and use the hashtags #BanksSupportingSurvivors or #16DaysOfActivism
Stay up to date with Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)’s latest news and campaigns by following us on social media.
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Your support can help us to save lives and stop economic abuse forever.
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) is a registered charity, and we rely on donations to fund our work. Without them, SEA would not exist.
There are many different ways that you can support our work, including making a donation.
Sunday 26 November 2023 marks International Economic Abuse Awareness Day.
International Economic Abuse Awareness Day began in Canada in 2019 when the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment (CCFWE) called for greater recognition of the issue. Alongside Australia (Centre from Women’s Economic Safety – CWES) and New Zealand (Good Shepherd), Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) joined the campaign to raise awareness, learn from each other and explore how we can transform responses to economic abuse across the world.
The coalition is now made up of six organisations – SEA, CCFWE, CWES, Good Shepherd New Zealand, Institute for Social Development and Justice (South Africa) and Women’s Spirit (Israel).
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that starts this year on Saturday 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until Sunday 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It is used by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
Surviving Economic Abuse is a registered charity. If you would like to support our work you can make a donation or become a regular giver. Visit our donations page for more information.
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