West Finchley councilor welcomes refuge scheme

Danny Rich has praised the launch of Barnet Council’s new ‘Safe Haven’ for women and girls

A Finchley councilor has welcomed Barnet Council’s decision to pilot a scheme to help keep women and girls safe locally.

The ‘Safe Haven’ scheme involves businesses providing temporary refuge to people who need help in the evening and “primarily targets women and girls to access support if they feel intimidated, threatened, harassed or ill”.

Finchley businesses taking part in the pilot are My Caffe at 731 High Road, The Elephant Inn at 283 Ballards Lane and The Bohemia 762 High Road.

West Finchley Labor councilor Danny Rich said: “Barnet is one of the safest boroughs in London. Even so, knowing that there is somewhere you can go to call or find information about transportation will be reassuring for many women if they feel threatened on an evening out. Barnet Labor wants to make sure it is delivered.

“I’m so excited that this scheme is being piloted in West Finchley and thanks to My Caffe, The Elephant and The Bohemia for stepping up.”

Independent news outlets like ours – which report for the community without wealthy backers – are under threat of closure, turning Britain’s cities into news deserts.

The public they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

In celebration of him India News WeekThe Public Interest News Foundation’s Indie News Fund will match the fund for all donations, including new June annual supporter subscriptions.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, annual or one-time donation.

Choose the news. Don’t miss the news.

Direct monthly debit

Annual direct debit

£5 a month backers get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 a month backers get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted each month. Annual £50 backers get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else. Annual £84 backers get a hard copy by post and a digital copy of each month before anyone else.

More information about supporting us monthly

More information about donations