In its continued efforts to ensure everyone, and in particular women, in Barking and Dagenham feel safe when out and about in the borough, the council has launched an initiative to provide safe spaces for them to go when they need help to feel safe.

Known as ‘Safe Havens’, the council has been working with local organisation Studio 3 Arts to identify places in the borough where women can go if they don’t feel safe, are worried, scared or just need to go somewhere for some support.

Over 30 local places have now signed up to the initiative and have received training from Studio 3 Arts to ensure they can help any woman who feels they need it. The Safe Havens will:

• Provide a welcoming and space.
• Help you with calling someone – friends, family or the police if need be.
• Provide practical information, such as bus routes, train stations and directions.
• Make sure they feel safe and confident to leave when they want to.

Women’s Safety is a top priority for the council and the Safe Haven scheme is the next part of the council’s Women’s Safety campaign which launched recently and asked men to question their own behaviours such as staring, walking closely behind and wolf-whistling as they tend to make women feel scared and anxious.

Alongside the police, the council recently held a Women’s Safety Meeting where both organisations gave an update on the work that they’re doing to improve safety for women in the borough.

Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care and Health Integration said: “Nobody should feel unsafe at home or when they are out and about in the borough. However,  following a series of consultations with residents, we’re aware that there are some places where people don’t feel safe, and this can be for various reasons.

“We hope that these Safe Havens will provide a bit of security for women if there are times where they feel like they need that extra bit of support.”

The council would like to have several Safe Havens in each ward around the borough, so through Studio 3 Arts, they will be running another round of training sessions and are encouraging businesses to sign up.

To sign up to the training, businesses should sign up on the council website.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “We want everyone who lives, works or visits Barking and Dagenham to feel safe and I am really pleased that a number of organisations have signed up to the Safe Haven scheme.

“We would like as many Safe Havens as possible, so I would encourage other businesses from cafes to local shops to please sign up and support the local community.”

As part of the scheme, you can collect a Safe Haven ‘In Case of Emergency’ card from the Community Hubs from around the borough. These cards will allow you to add your details and an emergency contact, which you can give to someone in s Safe Haven if you need to go to one. The person at a Safe Haven can then use the card to get in touch with your emergency contact.

The council also continues to tackle domestic abuse and the Safe Havens will also be places for women to go if they’re feeling unsafe in their own home or just need some extra support.

Although the Safe Havens are aimed at women, anyone who is feeling unsafe or vulnerable will be able to use them, including young people and men.

Residents and businesses can find out more about Safe Havens by heading to www.lbbd.gov.uk/safe-havens.