• Swindon & Wiltshire Social
• Monday October 12 2026

Nationwide launches discreet online Safe Space for domestic abuse victims

Victims of domestic abuse can now access confidential support online without leaving a trace on their device, following the launch of a new service by Swindon-headquartered building society Nationwide.

The building society’s Online Safe Space tool is available to anyone, not just customers, through a link at the bottom of every Nationwide webpage.

It provides support information, emergency contacts and domestic abuse resources without creating browsing history, and includes a quick exit function.

The launch extends Nationwide’s Safe Spaces programme, which already operates in more than 430 of its branches and more than 40 Virgin Money branches.

Those spaces offer a private area for people to contact loved ones, support organisations or emergency services.

The move comes as domestic abuse remains widespread across the UK. Office for National Statistics figures estimate that 3.8 million adults experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the 12 months to March 2025.

Around one in four adults has experienced abuse since the age of 16, with women disproportionately affected.

Disabled people are more than twice as likely to be affected as those without a disability, with prevalence rates of 9.2 per cent compared with 3.9 per cent.

Financial control is also a growing feature of abuse. Nationwide research found that 26 per cent of people affected by domestic abuse had experienced financial abuse, while 53 per cent said their access to money was being controlled by an abuser.

Alongside its branch-based Safe Spaces, Nationwide offers a dedicated Specialist Support Team, referrals to charities including Refuge, and works with Hestia, Refuge and Surviving Economic Abuse.

Branch colleagues are trained to recognise signs of abuse and help people access support.

Kathryn Townsend, head of customer vulnerability at Nationwide, said: “Domestic and economic abuse can leave people feeling trapped, isolated and cut off from the support they urgently need.

“Seeking help is often the hardest step, which is why it’s so important that support is easy to access and available in a way that feels safe.

“Our Online Safe Space offers a discreet route to information and help, building on the support already available through our branches, Specialist Support Team and charity partnerships.

“We want people to know that support is available in a way that is accessible to them, that they deserve to live free from abuse, and that help is there whenever they’re ready to take that first step.”

Patrick Ryan, chief executive of Hestia, said the online service would complement the charity’s in-branch Safe Spaces.

“Our Lived Experience Panel was instrumental in shaping this new online service, ensuring that this is not simply a tool designed for survivors, but one designed with their experiences at its heart,” he said.

“We are pleased to work closely with Nationwide to create more safe, accessible routes to support, which is an important step towards helping people experiencing domestic abuse find the safety they deserve.”