Suffolk's TSB branches offer a safe space for abuse victims
A partnership with Hestia see's the bank dedicate a room to support victims
Last updated 12th May 2021
TSB branches across the country, including in Suffolk, are joining the scheme.
Launched by domestic abuse charity Hestia, the 'Safe Spaces' are private rooms that victims can use to get support.
The private room can be used to call family and friends or to call a charity or organisation.
They can be found at the bank's branches in Bury St Edmunds, Felixstowe, Ipswich and Stowmarket.
Contact details of main support services, local and national, will be in the room.
Safe Spaces is part of Hestia's UK SAYS NO MORE campaign, which was launched as a response to the challenges Covid-19 placed on helping victims of abuse.
Jo Tilley-Riley, Director of Fundraising and Communication at Hestia, says the scheme has already helped people leave abusive situations:
"Making sure every victim of domestic abuse has a Safe Space in their local high street and local area is really crucial.
"We had a woman write to us recently to say using a Safe Space had saved her life.
"She had been shielding and was able to go to her local pharmacy with the excuse of collecting a prescription and use the room.
"Over the course of weeks she was able to call support services, solicitors and family to plan her escape."
Staff across the 290 TSB branches joining the scheme today have received training in how to respond to disclosures of domestic abuse.
However, staff at any Safe Space are not expected to give advice as Jo explains:
"They are providing the space as a bridge to specialist support, we do not expect them to be experts but support for the individual to come into the room to access the help that is available.
"In the Safe Space all the helpline numbers are available but also the Bright Sky app****** for the local abusive services.
"It is really crucial to us that the space allows people in abusive situations to take back control of their life.
"We've heard from one individual who used it to take time to think about things and breathe before deciding what they want to do next.
"It really is to be used for whatever the individual needs at that moment in time."
Leeway is a charity in Suffolk which also works to help those affected by domestic abuse.
Rhys Lloyd from the organisation tells us this scheme will have a huge impact: "Lockdown has made it quite hard for people to access support, so it's great to have those safe spaces where people can go and access useful information, or make phone calls to get support."
He added: "The kind of fairly normal environment that is a bank, it probably will give people confidence, and really they'll probably feel that they're not being judged.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse and need urgent assistance you can contact the Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247.
If you are in immediate danger, please call the police on 999.