Barnet Council is launching a pilot scheme providing shelters for women and girls

The “Safe Haven” scheme involves companies offering temporary refuge, local Democracy Reporter Grace Howarth reports

Barnet Council has launched a pilot scheme in North Finchley to help protect women and girls when they feel unsafe.

The Safe Haven scheme involves businesses around the neighborhood offering temporary refuge to people who need help when they’re out and about in the evening.

The council’s website said the scheme was “primarily aimed at women and girls to access support if they feel intimidated, threatened, harassed or harmed”.

Venues involved in the scheme are My Caffe at 731 High Road, The Elephant Inn at 283 Ballards Lane and The Bohemia at 762-764 High Road.

The services are free and “provide a confidential, personal and safe space”.

The companies will help a person call someone, such as a parent, friend or the police, and “can provide useful information” such as where the nearest bus stop was, which bus to take home and confidence to continue your safe journey.

A blue sticker with the words “Safe Haven” circled will be in the windows of the locations to indicate that the business is part of the program.

Explaining the motivation behind the scheme, a council spokesman said: “Barnet is one of the safest boroughs in London – and we want to keep it that way. We want to make sure Barnet remains a safe place for residents to live and work.

“Our vision is for Barnet to be a borough where everyone can live free from all forms of violence against women and girls.”

For more information about the Safe Haven scheme:
Visit Safe Havens | Barnet Council

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 annual supporter subscriptions for the month of June.

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