Nottingham charity Equation is delivering the J9 Safe Space training for free to businesses and organisations across the city in order to help survivors of domestic abuse access support more easily.
The J9 logo alerts victims that they can obtain information which will help them access a safe place with information resources and a telephone.
Funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden, the J9 training is delivered for free to all institutions who sign up. The response has been huge.
“So far, we have trained over 300 ambassadors and created just over 20 Safe Spaces”, says Nikki Fish, J9 training coordinator at the Equation charity. “We are getting more and more requests for trainings now, so it is really starting to pick up”.
Places such as healthcare institutions, housing and employment services and even educational institutions such as Nottingham Trent University have become safe spaces since Equation started hosting training sessions in 2024.
The initiative was first introduced to Nottinghamshire by Nicky Brindley, who has been working with the domestic abuse charity Tara’s Angels. She brought J9 training into Nottingham job centres and even introduced it to the Prime Minister in 2023.
“We are getting more and more requests for trainings now, so it is really starting to pick up”
Nikki Fish, j9 training coordinator
The training consists of a 90-minute session, delivered face-to-face or online. It covers basic signs to look out for, practical advice on how a place can become a Safe Space, as well as teaching people to give support to survivors and how to signpost them to services and charities. “Generally, companies prefer face-to-face sessions”, Nikki says.
If more than 50% of staff and at least one senior member have attended the training and the CEO or business owner has agreed to becoming a Safe Space, they receive a lanyard and a badge signalling their participation in the scheme. Additionally, posters are provided to be hung up in discreet locations like toilets or changing rooms.
Domestic abuse survivors can then ask for J9 and the person they are speaking to will reassure them and bring them to a safe private space. There, they receive free information resources and safety advice, as well as guidance on which charities to speak to.
The scheme was created in memory of Janine Mundy, who was killed by her estranged husband in 2003 while he was on police bail for offences against her. Her family and the local police in Cornwall created the J9 scheme, inspired by the ‘J9’ signature she used to sign off her texts.
In the future, Nikki hopes that the J9 scheme will continue to expand. “It should be as easy as possible to receive advice and professional support. Perpetrators often let their victims only go to one place, like a dentist, so that space should be a safe space where they can receive support”. She adds that 70% of survivors will disclose to a Community support service, but not to the police.
If organisations want to book a session, they can do so by emailing training@equation.org.uk.
Help for domestic abuse survivors can be found here:
Local domestic abuse services for women
Juno Women’s Aid support women, teenagers and children living in Nottingham city or Nottinghamshire. They run the main 24-hour domestic abuse helpline.
- Call free and in confidence on 0808 800 0340
- Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Local domestic abuse services for men & LGBTQ+ individuals
Equation support men living in Nottingham city (aged 16+) or Nottinghamshire (aged 18+), and LGBTQ+ people of any gender or sexual identity aged 16 and over in Nottingham city or Nottinghamshire. They run the main domestic abuse helpline.
- Email us at helpline@equation.org.uk or call 0800 9956 999
- Freephone available Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm excluding bank holidays (7.30pm on Wednesdays) – 24/7 confidential answerphone available outside these times.
