TSB opens up ‘safe spaces’ in nearly 300 bank branches to support domestic abuse survivors
Domestic abuse survivors can access “safe spaces” in nearly 300 TSB branches where they will receive specialist support, the bank has announced.
TSB said the initiative will enable more people to find help on their local high street, particularly as lockdown restrictions ease across the UK.
The scheme has been rolled out following three pilots in TSB’s Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire branches over the past six months.
Domestic abuse prevention charity Hestia partnered with the bank and local police forces to roll out the scheme.
The scheme was initially developed during the coronavirus pandemic in response to people suffering domestic abuse being trapped at home with their abusers.
Hestia has seen domestic abuse cases surge in the past year.
Sue Harper, head of domestic abuse prevention at Hestia, said: “During the pandemic, self-isolation has given abusers a new method of control over victims making it very difficult for them to get the help they need. As restrictions ease, it’s vital that access to specialist domestic abuse support is readily accessible.”
TSB branch staff have received specialist training to increase their confidence in responding to disclosures of domestic abuse and will provide victims with access to a safe space in their branch.
Victims can use a private room to make telephone calls, speak to a trained staff member and contact the local police force if necessary.
The support is available to both TSB customers and non-customers and adheres to current health and safety regulations, ensuring people can still visit safely, the bank said.
Carol Anderson, director of TSB’s branch network, said: “It’s clear during lockdown victims of domestic abuse have had fewer opportunities to seek help safely.
“For some, going into their local bank will be one of the few connections they have with the wider community and in partnership with Hestia we’ll be there to offer that support when they need it most.”
People can find safe spaces located in various businesses at uksaysnomore.org/safespaces.
Hestia’s safe spaces initiative was awarded over £652,000 by Postcode Innovation Trust, a grant-making trust funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs, said: “I am delighted to see that TSB has signed up to this scheme and will now offer victims support in their high street branches.”
Here is a list from TSB of its branches offering a safe space:
Aberdeen, Rosehill
Aberdeen, St Nicholas
Aberfeldy
Aberystwyth
Alloa
Alton
Amble
Arbroath
Ashton-in-Makerfield
Aylesbury
Aylsham
Ayr
Bamber Bridge
Banbury
Banff
Barnsley
Barnstaple
Barrington Street
Bath
Bedford
Bedlington
Bedworth
Beverley
Biddulph
Billingham
Birmingham, Great Barr
Birmingham, Longbridge
Birmingham, New Street
Birmingham, Perry Barr
Birmingham, Sheldon
Birmingham, Pype Hayes
Birmingham, Saltley
Bishop’s Stortford
Blackpool
Bluewater Park
Bolsover
Bolton, Hotel Street
Bootle, New Strand
Boscombe
Bradford
Bridlington
Bridport
Brighton, Western Road
Bristol, Bedminster
Bristol, Merchant Street
Bromley
Buckie
Bude
Burton-on-Trent
Bury St Edmunds
Buxton
Camberley
Cambridge
Cardiff, Working Street
Carmarthen, Blue Street
Chatham
Chelmsford, 88/89 High Street
Cheltenham, High Street
Chichester
Chorley
Cirencester
Cleveleys
Clydebank
Colchester
Coventry, High Street
Crawley
Crook
Croydon
Cumbernauld
Cwmbran, General Rees Square
Darlington, Blackwellgate
Derby, East Street
Doncaster, High St
Dovercourt
Dumfries
Dundee, Meadowside
Dundee, Broughty Ferry
Dundee, Coldside
Dunfermline
Ealing
East Kilbride
Eastbourne
Edinburgh, Cameron Toll
Edinburgh, Hanover Street
Edinburgh, Leith
Elgin
Ellon
Enfield, 22-24 Church Street
Evesham
Exeter
Exmouth
Falkirk
Felixstowe
Flint
Forfar
Forres
Fort William
Fraserburgh
Frodsham
Frome
Gainsborough
Galashiels
Gateshead
Gillingham
Glasgow, Byres Road
Glasgow, Pollok
Glasgow, Shawlands
Glasgow, Shettleston
Glasgow, St Vincent
Glasgow, Cardonald
Glasgow, Castlemilk
Glenrothes
Gloucester
Goole
Greenford
Greenock
Grimsby, Victoria Street
Haddington
Halesowen
Hamilton
Hanley
Harold Hill
Harrow, St Ann’s Road
Hereford
High Wycombe
Horsham
Hounslow
Huddersfield, Cloth Hall St
Hull, 87-91 Jameson Street
Ilford
Inverness
Inverurie
Ipswich, Buttermarket
Irvine
Jarrow
Keighley
Keynsham
Kilmarnock
Kings Lynn
Kingston-Upon-Thames
Kirkcaldy, High Street
Kirkintilloch
Kirkwall
Lanark
Ledbury
Leeds, Headrow
Leicester, The Roundway
Leicester, Town Hall Square
Lerwick
Leven
Lincoln, High Street
Liverpool, Garston
Liverpool, Lord Street
Liverpool, Maghull
Liverpool, Old Swan
Livingston
London, Archway
London, Bermondsey
London, Bethnal Green
London, Cheapside
London, Clapham
London, Crouch End
London, Greenwich
London, Hammersmith
London, Harlesden
London, Leytonstone
London, Peckham
London, Stamford Hill
London, Tottenham
London, West End
Longton
Louth
Luton
Maesteg
Maidstone
Maltby
Manchester, Denton
Manchester, Eccles
Manchester, Longsight
Manchester, Market Street
Manchester, Middleton
Manchester, Wythenshawe
Maryport
Melton Mowbray
Merry Hill
Midsomer Norton
Milton Keynes
Minehead
Morden
Morecambe
Morpeth
Motherwell
Musselburgh
Nantwich
Nelson
Newark
Newbury
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, St Mary’s
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Milvain
Newport (Isle of Wight)
Newport, Commercial Street
Newton Aycliffe
Northallerton
Northampton, Weston Favell
Northgate Wakefield
Norwich, Guildhall Hill
Norwich, Magdalen Street
Nottingham, Clifton
Nottingham, Eastwood
Nottingham, Sherwood
Nottingham, West Bridgford
Oban
Oldbury
Ossett
Oswestry
Oxford
Paisley, High Street
Perth
Peterborough, 30-31 Long Causeway
Peterhead
Pitsea
Plymouth, Armada Way
Portsmouth
Preston, Fishergate
Quedgeley
Rawtenstall
Reading
Redcar
Redditch
Retford
Romford, Stewards Walk
Romsey
Ross-on-Wye
Rushden
Rutherglen
Sheerness
Sheffield, Darnall
Sheffield, Meadowhall
Sheffield, Woodseats
Shrewsbury
Slough
Smethwick, Cape Hill
Solihull
Somerton
Southampton, Above Bar
Southend-on-Sea
St Andrews
St Helens
Stevenage
Stirling
Stonehaven
Stornoway
Stourport-on-Severn
Stowmarket
Stranraer
Sunderland, Athenaeum Street
Swaffham
Swansea, Union Street
Swindon, The Parade
Taunton
Tavistock
Telford
Tenbury Wells
Tewkesbury
Thornbury
Thurso
Torquay, St Marychurch
Truro
Tunbridge Wells
Uxbridge
Wallington
Walsall, The Bridge
Wantage, Market Place
Warrington, Buttermarket Street
Watford
Wellington
West Bromwich
Weston-Super-Mare
Whitchurch
Whitehaven
Wigan, Pemberton
Wilmslow
Wimborne
Winsford
Witney
Wolverhampton, Queen Street
Worcester
Wrexham
Yeovil
York, Parliament Street
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