Southampton Safe Places Network

We are contacting services and businesses in the city, to ask them to join the Southampton Safe Places Network, part of the national network: Safe Places - Keep Safe with Safe Places

The Safe Places Network

Any service or business that registers could act as a temporary refuge when a person is feeling unsafe. The network offers safety for any adult or young person who feels vulnerable while out and about in public.

Vulnerable people can carry a Safe Places card to contain the names and contact numbers of relatives or friends, who can be called for help when they have reached a safe space. These cards will be available in various accessible premises in the city.

The person may also need help with more serious issues such as bullying and harassment or theft, for example, where the police may need to be called.

Membership

To become a member, access the training resources for you and your staff members here Safe Places - Information for Businesses - GO! Southampton (gosouthampton.co.uk). It is essential to watch the training video and download the resources to become a Safe Place.

Please then email safeplace@southampton.gov.uk to register and ask any questions. Let us know how many Safe Place cards and window stickers you need; this is so people can identify your premises as a Safe Place.

Once registered as member, Southampton City Council will post the window stickers, safe places cards, and support brochures to your premises. You will then be live on the Safe Places website map, and on the free to use Safe Places App that people can use to find a temporary refuge in time of need.

Please share this information with your colleagues and your wider networks to encourage other local services and businesses to register as a Safe Place, or to help raise awareness of the Safe Places network.

Membership can promote a business/venue’s reputation as they become known as a Safe Place, enhancing relations with the community, and helping Southampton become a safe and accessible city for all.

Useful services for supporting an individual

We've put together a comprehensive list of support services for Southampton's Safe Places Network. This document includes how to report a crime, useful links and resources, helplines and what support services are available for varying needs.

UK SAYS NO MORE has advice, tools, and information on how to respond to potential disclosures of domestic abuse and sexual violence. This advice can also be applied to other sensitive issues, such as someone seeking refuge because of public sexual harassment or stalking. View this on the UK SAYS NO MORE website. 

Southampton Safe Places Network - Case studies

For local support for children, young people and adults with a learning disability and their family carers, see Southampton Mencap, which is a voluntary organisation based in Portswood. They work to raise awareness to their rights, alongside the direct provision of a range of services.

More information can be found at Southampton Mencap, telephone number: 023 8058 4088, e-mail address: admin@southamptonmencap.co.uk