HSBC banks in Cornwall create safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse
It comes as 4,000 staff across the UK have been given specialist training
Last updated 20th Apr 2022
Truro is one of many cities where bank employees have been trained to provide specialist support for victims of domestic violence in an anonymous and confidential setting.
It comes as 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience abuse in their lifetime and the past year has seen domestic abuse cases making up 18% of reported crime between 2020-21.
Jo-Tilly Riley told us: "Sadly domestic abuse is widespread in our communities and we also know that domestic abuse in times of economic hardship increases so as we go into this cost of living crisis sadly we expect to see increases.
"It's absolutely crucial that as a wider community we take a stand against domestic abuse, we break the taboos and the silence and it's so powerful to have a business like HSBC UK step up and be a part of that".
The Safe Spaces scheme first launched by Hestia in response to challenges faced by victims of domestic abuse during the COVID-19 lockdown and peoples inability to access help during that time - launching in pharmacies and other high street locations.
It has since expanded to HSBC branches across the UK too, the largest bank to offer the service so far, with 4,000 employees nationally receiving specialist training.
That includes staff in Truro, St Austell, Wadebridge, Penzance and Liskeard.
Jo-Tilly Riley continued: "We've heard lots of stories of people who've used the Safe Space, people who've told us they think the Safe Space has saved their lives to help them get to a refuge and people who've told us how it's enabled them to plan their own exit and take back their own lives again.
"That's why it's so positive that we're seeing the expansion of the initiative".
Reports also show that HSBC deal with two calls a day that mention ‘financial abuse’ or ‘domestic abuse’ with around a third of those customers looking to separate their current account and remove financial ties.
Jackie Orkey works with HSBC UK and said: "We stand alongside Hestia with zero tolerance to domestic abuse and we don't want to shy away from what is a critical issue in society".
Part of the scheme is also in place to help people fleeing an abuser with housing issues by offering support to those without a permanent address in their process to gain access to a bank account.
Already, around 100 men and women referred by domestic abuse charities have been helped by the service.
Jackie continued: "It provides another avenue to be able to seek help. It provides an opportunity to have some quiet time, it might just be thinking time and getting out a domestic abuse situation it might take several visits.
"It's really important to have the accessibility and help staff know what is domestic abuse, what are the signs and will renew that training so everyone that comes on board is up to speed by continuing to improve those areas we haven't yet considered".