Morrisons opens Safe Spaces for those experiencing domestic abuse

• Morrisons pharmacies open up consulting rooms as Safe Spaces
  
  
• Information on where to get help will be shared on posters and till receipts in all stores
  
  
• A 25% increase in calls for help reported by National Domestic Abuse Helpline since lockdown began

For immediate release 

Morrisons is the first supermarket to offer a safe space where victims of domestic abuse can contact support services. 

Morrisons is joining forces with the charity Hestia's UK SAYS NO MORE campaign because a trip to a supermarket is such a routine activity it’s unlikely to alarm an abuser.  

Consulting rooms in pharmacies in 117 Morrisons stores will be designated Safe Spaces where Morrisons pharmacists - who have been specially trained - can direct those seeking help to the support they need. 

Information about the Safe Spaces and where to get help will also be shared on posters and till receipts in all 494 Morrisons stores. Morrisons is working with the charity Hestia which has launched the UK SAYS NO MORE campaign as victims of domestic abuse are forced to isolate with perpetrators during lockdown.

The move comes as the National Domestic Violence Helpline has reported a 25% increase in calls and online requests for help since the lockdown began.

Lyndsey Dearlove, Head of UK SAYS NO MORE at Hestia said:

"By offering access to help through their supermarkets Morrisons is offering a lifeline to many victims of domestic abuse. Supermarket trips are part of a routine that, even during lockdown, provides a vital opportunity to seek help without raising the suspicions of an abusive partner or household member. The expansion of Safe Spaces into supermarkets could save lives.'

Lisa Leighton, Head of People at Morrisons said:

“We want to help our customers and colleagues during this very difficult time. We provide an environment for our colleagues where those experiencing domestic abuse feel encouraged and empowered to disclose this, and feel confident that we’ll help them get the right specialist support. We wanted to extend this to seek help to our customers. You are not alone. Come to our pharmacies and let our colleagues know if you need help.”

Morrisons will focus on raising awareness and understanding of domestic abuse with colleagues across all 494 stores nationwide over the coming months to ensure that every store becomes a safe space for those who need it the most.

Hestia provides a free mobile app, Bright Sky, which has already seen a 47 per cent increase in downloads since the lockdown began. The app provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.

Victims of domestic abuse can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 at any time. 

#ItsMoreThanOurJob 

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Notes to editors:

Morrisons safe space

Whilst in the consultancy room, people will have access to:

• 24-hour National domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247
• Men’s advice line: 0808 801 032
• Scotland - Domestic Abuse & Forced Marriage Helpline (freephone 24/7): 0800 027 123
• Wales - Live Fear Free Helpline (freephone 24/7): 0808 801 0800
• Northern Ireland - Domestic & Sexual Abuse: 0808 802 1414
• Signposting to download free mobile app Bright Sky, which provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.
  

About Morrisons

Headquartered in Bradford since 1899, Morrisons is a British company and one of the UK’s largest food retailers with more than 120,000 colleagues in 494 stores serving over 12 million customers every week.

We are British farming’s biggest supermarket customer and all Morrisons-branded fresh meat and everything on our butchers’ counters is 100% British. Foodmakers and shopkeepers at heart, we have over 9,000 trained butchers, bakers, fishmongers, cheesemongers and other skilled in-store specialists making more food in store than any other retailer.

Morrisons is the only British supermarket to have its own sites making meat, fruit & veg, fish, bakery and fresh food products – 14 in all – and is unique in preparing and making more than half of the fresh food sold in our stores. Food manufactured in our sites and stores is showcased with ‘Morrisons Makes It’ branding.

Morrisons is becoming even more competitive by cutting prices on groceries and continuing to offer great value on good quality products. We tailor the offer of each one of our stores to local tastes and demographics. We also offer popular services including cafés, pharmacies, dry cleaners and over 300 petrol stations with further services being added all the time.

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