Full list of Virgin Money branches offering domestic abuse safe spaces
Virgin Money offers vital safe spaces across its 42 branches to provide vital support to individuals affected by domestic abuse.
This expansion significantly strengthens the existing network and brings the total number of such classified spaces across Nationwide Building Society’s branch network to 475.
These designated safe spaces offer a private sanctuary where victims of domestic abuse can access support, make confidential calls to specialist charities and seek temporary refuge from their abusers.
Complementing this, Nationwide is supporting domestic violence charity Hestia’s ‘Support is a Team Sport’ campaign during the World Cup.
The campaign encourages the public to recognize the signs of abuse and use the Bright Sky app, which offers advice, accesses local and national support services and helps users find the nearest safe area at Virgin Money or Nationwide branches, as well as guidance on how to help others safely.
Customers can also use Nationwide’s branch locator to find their nearest Nationwide safe space.
Nationwide said it offers a support package for those experiencing abuse, including a partnership with domestic violence charity Refuge, providing expert advice and immediate assistance.
People can also access Shout, a free, confidential mental health text service.
Nationwide also offers an in-app payment reference blocking feature for victims of financial and economic abuse, allowing victim survivors to block threatening or coercive messages from abusers that come with bank transfers.
Nationwide retail services manager Mandy Beech said: “We would urge anyone experiencing abuse to reach out – our safe in-branch spaces are here to support you.
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“We know that a bank or building society may not be the most obvious or traditional place to turn in a crisis, but there are real, practical things we can do to help people get the support they need through our charity partners and the tools we’ve created.
“Our colleagues in more than 600 branches participated in our domestic violence awareness training because no one should face this situation alone.”
Sue Harper, Deputy Director of Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention at Hestia, said: “Although football does not cause abuse, we know that existing abusive behavior is often intensified on match days.
“Rising emotions and increased alcohol consumption can lead to increased harm, leaving victim survivors fearful of matchdays and feeling unsafe in their own homes.
“We all have a part to play this summer. We can help people feel less alone and ensure they get the support they need.”
Other financial service providers also provide support to people experiencing domestic violence.
For example, TSB offers safe spaces as well as an escape fund that gives victims of domestic abuse up to £500 to pay for basic needs to help them escape an abusive relationship.
Economic abuse often accompanies other types of domestic abuse as part of a pattern of exercising control over another person.
Warning signs include when someone has power and control over the other person’s finances; preventing a person from working or accessing their own wages; or spending money or obtaining loans on another person’s behalf without the other person’s knowledge or consent.
Virgin Money branch locations with secure areas include:
bailleston
Bolton
Clydebank
Cramlington
Darlington
Doncaster
Dumfries
Dunferm line
Estonia
Falkirk
Glasgow, Tepebaşı
greenock
Hamilton
Harrogate
hartlepool
inverurie
Keith
Kilmarnock
kirkintilloch
Kirkwall
City of Leeds
Leeds, Moortown
Leeds, Hunslet
Mansfield
montrose
Motherwell
oldham
Paisley
perth
preston
pudsey
Rutherglen
Scunthorpe
stornoway
Sheffield, Hillsborough
Sheffield, Woodseats
shipley
stock port
Sunderland
thornaby
tobermory
washington
