Creating safe spaces – Why it matters

Creating a space where people feel safe and accepted enables them to build confidence and opens up opportunities to try new hobbies and learn new skills.
Within our Wellbeing Matters team we put a big emphasis on creating that type of space. This means having the necessary documents in place to ensure people’s safety but it is more than that; it is ensuring that people are welcomed and looked after when they attend a group or an activity. Small, simple things make a big difference: 

• Does the person know who to contact before they attend and when they get there?
• Where are the facilities? Drinks, toilets etc.
• Will someone ensure they are included in the activities and not sat on their own?

These things may seem obvious to us but it is easy to overlook when we are busy setting up an activity and everyone wants our attention. If it is like this in your group, you can ask another volunteer or trusted group member to do these for you. This will make a huge impact on the person and will encourage them to come back.

A safe space can look different to each of us and can be as unique and individual as we are. That is why at Salford CVS we engage with a wide range of different groups and organisations to create variety and choice within the community. Here are a few examples of groups who have received funding to take referrals from our Community Connectors (you can find more about this here Wellbeing Matters (salfordcvs.co.uk)) and who have been successful in creating those spaces.

At Transcend, a wellbeing centre in Eccles, they have focused on creating safe spaces where people can learn, grow, have fun and heal whilst feeling completely supported in their wellbeing journey. People who have attended have stated that they:

• Have made new friends
• Feel less lonely
• Have started to do exercise at home
• Have tried new activities
• Have improved their confidence
• Feel safe and that they can be themselves
• Include more self-care within their own daily routine
• Get a positive boost throughout the week  when they attend

Talk About it Mate run a weekly men’s peer support session in Walkden. This gives men a safe space to talk, express their feelings and be themselves. The group has a positive impact on men’s mental health as they are able to connect over lived experiences giving support and showing compassion to each other. Men return week after week and are encouraged to participate when and how it feels right to them. One man gave this feedback;

“At first he just looked through the window and felt that he wasn’t ready to join in, but the week after he decided to go inside. He just listened for the first couple of weeks, but after that he started to open up and contribute to the group. As the time has gone on he is now feeling more confident to talk to people. He said, “ I don’t really talk much but here I don’t shut up.”

Sharks Together have been running weekly physical activity sessions in both Eccles and Walkden. These sessions are designed for people of all levels of experience and mobility. People are welcomed and encouraged to do the activity at their own pace and there is no competition or comparing with others. Group members encourage each other and celebrate their own and other’s personal achievements. The group leader had this to say, “It’s been so rewarding to see new friendships developing in the sessions. Whether that’s seeing new members being welcomed by existing members or the chats at rest intervals being had.”

One of the women who attended gave this quote,

“I was made to feel at ease from my very first session. I’ve never felt I was asking silly questions and any worries I had were always eased.  I have defiantly noticed a massive difference in my physical and mental health since joining. I always look forward to seeing everyone and leave feeling happy and proud that I’ve done the session, which is something I didn’t think I’d be able to do. It’s also given me the confidence to join back at the gym, again, something which I had for done for years.”

Connect Youth and Community Centre offer a variety of activities to tackle social isolation and loneliness including a weekly lunch, arts and crafts and singing group. They have found that people are often quite nervous before they come so they ask their volunteers to ensure that they feel welcome. They have found that this helps them interact and talk to other members, quickly putting them at ease and helping them to settle in. On an occasion when someone found one of the groups a little large for them, the group leaders suggested they attend a different session which was smaller and calmer. This allowed them to feel safe, continue attending and have fun.

How you can create a safe space in your group?

The best thing we can do to create that space is ask and listen. There will be many similarities in the things people contribute but there will always the things we haven’t thought of that can make a difference. You may want to start the conversation with your group members by asking them and then importantly, take action. Things that contribute to a safe space that you could think about and discuss are;

• Environment – indoors /outdoors – can it be improved or adapted?
• Inclusivity and diversity within the group – who attends or could attend?
• Pressure and willingness to take part/ speak – not everyone is comfortable and confident to speak up in a group even if they are on a one to one
• Variety and choice
• Knowing who to speak to if something doesn’t feel right

These are a few examples and you will have many more. We know things won’t always be perfect and right for everyone but we can all play our part in creating a safe space that supports and enhances a person’s wellbeing.

If you would like to talk further about creating safe spaces, Wellbeing Matters or talking social prescription referrals from our Community Connectors, one of our Development Workers will be happy to discuss it with you.