Harrow now has 26 Safe Havens across the borough, giving residents more places to go if they feel unsafe, threatened or need immediate support.
Five new locations have recently been added, including Citizens Advice Harrow, Hillview Family Hub, Buchanan Court Care Home, Crowning Greatness Community Hub and The Moat Café at Headstone Manor.
Safe Havens are places people can go if they feel scared or vulnerable. Staff at each location are trained to help, whether that’s making a phone call, charging a phone, waiting somewhere safe, or just taking time to feel calm. The service is free and confidential, and open to everyone.
The scheme was originally set up to support women and girls, but is now open to anyone who needs it.
Across Harrow, Safe Havens include libraries, community organisations, local hubs and voluntary groups. Each one displays a sticker in the window so people can easily identify where help is available.
Cllr Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets & Public Safety, said: “No one should ever feel scared or threatened in Harrow. I am pleased that we have exceeded the number of Safe Havens we had planned to introduce this year. These spaces show what can be achieved when the council, community groups and local organisations work together to look out for one another and put our residents first.
“If someone is feeling unsafe or unsettled, we want them to know that support is nearby. Our Safe Havens offer that reassurance and a place to pause until the next step feels manageable.”
The programme is being delivered in partnership with the Safer Business Network and is part of wider efforts to improve safety in Harrow and tackle harassment.
Staff at Safe Havens can also help people contact friends, family or emergency services, and direct them to further local support if needed.
Locations are spread across the borough, including Harrow town centre, Wealdstone, Pinner, South Harrow, Stanmore, Kenton and Headstone, with a mix of libraries, community centres, cafés and even fire stations taking part.
Opening hours vary depending on the location, with some sites open during the day and others, such as fire stations, available 24 hours.
Businesses in Harrow can also apply to become a Safe Haven as the council looks to expand the network further.
To see a full list of locations, click here.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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