Safe Spaces Scheme
Introduction
The Central Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Safe Spaces Scheme is part of the Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership Safe Spaces Scheme where specific locations within the community are available to:
- offer a safe space for somebody to go to who needs to access support
- offer a safe space for someone to contact a support service to help them safely
What is a Safe Space?
A Safe Space is an area in your building that enables someone experiencing domestic abuse to be able to make a confidential call, use the internet safely to get help or to just be somewhere safe.
The Safe Space will display, if possible, information about the local and national services that can support victims. If these information details can’t be displayed for some reason, the Safe Space would provide access to the information for people who need it. There is a list of local and national services at the end of this guidance that could be displayed or made available in your safe space
Staff who manage and work in the Safe Space do not need to be experts in domestic abuse. Just having information about support services displayed and providing a safe environment for someone affected by domestic abuse to make a call or access on-line services, could make a big difference. If you are approached by someone asking about a Safe Space, then all you should have to do is show them where they can access the allocated Safe Space area at your location.
Why do we need the Safe Space scheme?
Whatever the situation, everyone deserves to live a life free from fear and abuse and there is support for victims and perpetrators at every stage of their life and at every stage of a relationship.
Not everyone has a safe space to go to when they need to get away from abuse or talk to someone who can help them in confidence. That’s why we would like to have places in our communities that are safe for individuals to go to.
One of the most important things we would encourage anyone affected by domestic abuse to do, is to talk about what is happening to them.
Support for Safe Spaces in Central Bedfordshire
We will be able to give you support if you would like to become a safe space or find out more about how you can support individuals in your community. We will:
- Come to your place of work to have an initial conversation about being a Safe Space and answer any queries that you may have
- Provide a point of contact to you who will be able to be your first point of contact for any domestic abuse support
- Provide training for someone in your workplace to be trained as a Domestic Abuse Responder
Top tips for your Safe Space
- Brief your staff teams and remind them frequently about Safe Spaces so that everyone knows about the scheme and knows where to direct any queries from individuals.
- Remember to register your safe space details by providing the name of your location/service, postal address, website address if available and a contact email address or phone number so that we can send you updates or resources to BDAP@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
- Display the resources, including the logo image, in your safe space and consider where else they could be displayed such as: toilet, restrooms, staff rooms, reception areas, break out areas etc.
- Keep in touch. Let us know if there is anything we can provide to help you promote or improve your safe space.
How do I become a Safe Space?
If you think that you are able to provide a Safe Space to someone affected by domestic abuse, then all you need to do is let us know that you would like to join the scheme.
Please email your details to: BDAP@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Please provide:
- Name of your location/service
- Postal address
- Opening hours if applicable.
- Website address if available.
- Contact email address or phone number so that we can send you updates or resources (this detail will NOT be displayed on any public website page)
We are aiming to build and publish a directory of local Safe Spaces across Bedfordshire and you can help us do this by registering to join the scheme.
Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
If you think a child you know is being harmed or at risk of being harmed, please contact your local authority and share your concerns with them.
For safeguarding advice or to report a concern:
- Contact the Central Bedfordshire Access and Referral Hub on 0300 300 8585 or for out of hours contact 0300 300 8123
If you think a vulnerable adult you know is being harmed or at risk of being harmed, please contact your local authority and share your concerns with them.
For safeguarding advice or to report a concern:
Support Services
There are local and national services that provide support to those affected by domestic abuse. This includes the police, the local authority and the many voluntary and community services across Bedfordshire and beyond.
For more information about the specialist support services available, please utilise the following resources:
If you are worried that you or someone you know is in immediate danger, you should call the police on 999.