Bradford Council 'Safe Spot' to help victims of domestic abuse
It's the first pilot scheme to take place in the UK
Fire stations in the Bradford District have opened as 'Safe Spots' for domestic abuse victims.
In the new pilot Those escaping abuse can go to eight Safe Spots- where they can seek support and contact services.
Those who use the Safe Spot scheme will be given a private space to access useful information and will also be provided with a phone to contact a helpline, friends or family.
The fire stations open as a Safe Spot are:
- Bingley - Keighley Road Bingley Bradford BD16 2RD
- Bradford - 540 Leeds Road Bradford BD3 9SB
- Fairweather Green - Thornton Road Fairweather Green Bradford BD8 0EH
- Ilkley - Little Lane Ilkley LS298JJ
- Keighley - Bradford Road Keighley BD21 4BW
- Odsal - Huddersfield Road Odsal Bradford BD6 1DJ
- Shipley - Shipley Fields Road Shipley BD18 2FA
- Silsden - Elliot Street Silsden Keighley BD20 0DE
'Creating a community response to the trauma created by domestic abuse'
Councillor Abdul Jabar said:
“Through our Safe Spot partners we are creating a community response to the trauma created by domestic abuse. We want to make sure that people across our district have different ways of reporting their concerns and to ask for help where needed.
"These don’t change the fact that the police are available if a crime is committed and that we have excellent domestic abuse services available by phone or through web chat. We know that some people facing abuse might not have free access to their phone or the confidence to call an organisation they have never spoken to.
“Safe Spots are district organisations that people already have confidence in and this is why we chose the fire service as our first partner. They are places people might pass by on their way to the shop or when taking their children to school."