Marble Arch BID is inviting BID member organisations and businesses to come forward and, through us and with our support throughout the process, become a Safe Haven.
As part of a wider drive to address the safety of women and girls at night and vulnerable people, whether working, visiting or living in Westminster, Marble Arch BID is helping promote and establish a network of Safe Havens across the BID area. This will be supported by free training and accreditation provided by Safer Business Network (SBN) and their existing pan-London Safe Haven scheme.
Safe Havens are spaces that support vulnerable people, by providing a secure environment in which they can seek support or take a short break to charge their phone, organise a taxi or have a drink of water – and from which they can safely continue their journey home.
Safe Havens are not expected to provide specialist interventions or solve someone’s problems directly, though staff can contact emergency services and/or signpost to specialist services where needed. The key aims for a Safe Haven include:
- Providing a friendly face and reassurance.
- Allowing the individual to charge their phone.
- Calling a taxi.
- Contacting family/friends.
- Waiting for, or signposting to transport.
- If required, making a phone call to the emergency services, or offering useful helpline numbers to the affected person.
What do I need to have in place?
To become a Safe Haven, businesses or organisations should have the following facilities:
- Access to water (can be bottled)
- Electricity
- Wi-fi or a landline telephone
- Charging point and charging cable for mobile phones
- A chair/seating
- Access to a toilet
- Trained staff with contact details for a list of support organisations (free training and support contact details provided)
- Relevant public liability insurance
- Landlord’s permission (if applicable)
- Safeguarding – which can include working CCTV, body cameras worn by staff, two members of staff present when an individual is in the Safe Haven, or staff have in date current DBS checks.
The Application Process
Businesses wishing to become Safe Havens can email Marble Arch BID to get the ball rolling.
One of our specialist team will then visit your business premises and help you to complete the two simple online forms – a Safe Haven Registration Form and a Safety Review Form. Each business will nominate one Safe Haven ‘champion’ as part of this process.
The nominated business champion attends a free one-hour online training session delivered by our partners Safer Business Network. The champion then briefs all customer-facing staff who may come into contact with users of a Safe Haven, and shows them two short videos on Safe Havens and Vulnerability.
Safer Business Network will assess the online submissions and if they meet the Safe Haven criteria, deliver Safe Haven window stickers and collateral to Marble Arch BID, for our team to then hand out to each business.
An official launch date is agreed with each business and the business locations will be scheduled to launch and appear on the Safe Haven App on this mutually agreed date.
Marble Arch BID and Safer Business Network will visit each business prior to the launch date to finalise arrangements, with follow up visits conducted approximately every three months.
How are Safe Havens advertised?
Each Safe Haven business is included on the Safe Haven app for the public to identify the location of the Safe Havens. The app is available to download for both IOS and Android.
Other partners, including the Metropolitan Police will be informed and support your Safe Haven during your operational hours.
Safe Havens are also recognisable by door/window stickers at each venue, which are provided free once the accreditation process is completed.
