Mandy Beech, Director of Retail Services comments on plans from Nationwide Building Society to offer safe spaces to people experiencing domestic abuse across more than 400 branches across the UK.

According to the UK-wide poll of 2,000 people, more than a quarter (26%) of people who have experienced or know someone who has experienced domestic violence say financial abuse was the root cause of the abuse.

Encouragingly, nearly half (47%) of Brits would willingly speak to a dedicated member of staff in a branch on the high street about any domestic abuse issues. All Nationwide branch colleagues have received specialised training to help spot signs of domestic abuse and offer support to those affected, including helping them manage their finances, providing access to a specialist support team and other resources.

Mandy Beech, Director of Retail Services said: 

We’re proud to actively take a stand against domestic abuse and protect and support not only our own customers, but anyone within our communities who may be impacted. We hope that by rolling out Safe Spaces across over 400 of our branches and training all our branch colleagues, we are helping make a difference by giving people somewhere to go and access support safely. Branches are as vital today as they have always been as they provide a trusted place to talk to someone face to face.

Full release: Nationwide - UK's biggest branch network - rolls out over 400 Safe Spaces for domestic abuse victims

Media contact

Anabel Goncalves-Hudson
Media Relations Manager
Nationwide Building Society
anabel.goncalves-hudson@nationwide.co.uk