Bright Choices

Who We Are

At Bright Choices, we offer free and confidential help to women, men, and families from ethnically diverse backgrounds who have experienced or are at risk of ‘honour-based’ abuse (HBA). This can include domestic abuse, extended family abuse, coercive control, forced marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). 

The Bright Choices service is here to help you stay safe by offering free and confidential support.

What is Honour-based abuse?

• ‘Honour-based’ abuse is a pattern of abuse or control carried out by family members or the wider community to protect or restore perceived family honour. 
• It can involve various forms of abuse, including: 
• Psychological abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, financial abuse and Emotional abuse 
• HBA is framed as a response to actions considered shameful or dishonourable, such as: 
  • Rejecting a forced marriage 
  • Defying cultural expectations 
  • Adopting ‘Western’ values, behaviours, or lifestyles 
  • Commonly affects women, but men can also be impacted, especially if they challenge family or community beliefs and norms. 
• While “honour” is used as a justification, honour-based abuse is not about culture or tradition—it is an abusive practice. It is never acceptable.

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“I am very strong now, you gave me sense of direction and choice in my life, I know what I need to do now and one day I will be independent and free enough to look at this part of my life as something distant and something that cannot harm me anymore. I have hope now and I no longer feel that I live in a fog, I can see clearly, I can breathe and I know that myself and my children have the whole life ahead of us and we can be happy. That is thanks to the Bright Choices”.

Bright Choices Service User