A scheme to offer protection to those who feel unsafe when out and about founded and developed by Stroud resident, Chrissie Lowery, is being rolled out across all Stagecoach West bus services in Gloucestershire.
Launched in October 2022 as a response to a series of sexual assaults and rapes of women in Stroud, the Safe Space scheme allows people to use public spaces as a place to stay if they’re being followed or when they need support.
The scheme has already proven to be effective, with reports of multiple women having found safety in designated shops in Stroud — including a domestic abuse survivor who came to a Safe Space after an incident, where a member of staff kept them safe until further help arrived.