Earlier this month, Royal Mail Group launched the ‘Online Safe Spaces’ portal, which provides support for victims of domestic abuse. The Company is offering the software for free, to any organisation wanting to support the cause.

• eBay and Post Office are among the first organisations to adopt Royal Mail Group’s ‘Online Safe Spaces’ portal, which provides support for victims of domestic abuse. The icon will feature on the brands’ central websites, which have a combined audience of 32.1 million.
• ‘Online Safe Spaces’ is a discreet portal, which was developed in collaboration with crisis charity Hestia. It can be installed on both internal and external company websites.
• The portal provides a variety of helpful support, advice and contact information to those at risk of or experiencing domestic abuse. It also features a quick exit button and leaves no internet history, ensuring the safety of those using the service.
• The initiative was developed by Royal Mail Group Senior Legal Advisor Charlie Ryan, as part of the Company’s entry in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers – Global Legal Hackathon Challenge*. The challenge asked participants to produce the most pioneering solutions to societal problems posed by the Covid-19 crisis.
• The Company is offering the portal software for free, to any corporate organisation that would like to support the cause.

eBay, Post Office and Ministry of Defence are among the first organisations to adopt Royal Mail Group’s ‘Online Safe Spaces’ portal, which helps abuse victims access vital support and advice.

The portal will be installed on www.ebay.co.uk and www.postoffice.co.uk, reaching a total audience of 32.1 million. It will also feature on the Ministry of Defence’s internal website, for the benefit of their c.200,000 employees. Participating organisations have placed the Online Safe Spaces link at the bottom of their web pages, so it can be easily accessed by anyone needing to use the tool.

‘Online Safe Spaces’ is a discreet portal, which leaves no internet history trace, and is being offered by the Company upon request to any organisation for free, to support victims of domestic abuse. The service has been developed in collaboration with the charity Hestia and its ‘UK SAYS NO MORE’ campaign, alongside leading abuse experts from the University of Bristol.

The portal opens in a pop-up window, which can be installed on both internal and external websites. The service provides support, advice and helpful contact numbers for those at risk of domestic abuse. It also provides quick exit options for the person seeking information.

Royal Mail Group has worked with the national ‘UK SAYS NO MORE’ campaign to ensure that the ‘Online Safe Spaces’ provides a host of helpful links and information, including; when to dial 999, national helplines, local support groups and further useful links. It also includes a questionnaire to determine the participant’s risk of domestic abuse.

The initiative was developed by Royal Mail Senior Legal Advisor Charlie Ryan and Hawkrose Ltd MD Rob Fern, following their involvement in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers – Global Legal Hackathon Challenge*. The challenge asked participants to produce the most pioneering solutions to societal problems posed by the Covid-19 crisis.

The term ‘Safe Spaces’ aligns with the current ‘UK SAYS NO MORE’ campaign, which provides physical Safe Spaces in retail premises for victims of domestic abuse. Participants so far include Boots, Superdrug and Morrisons.