Guest blog: How schemes like TSB’s “Flee Fund” address the practical realities of escaping domestic abuse

8 December 2023

During 16 Days of Activism we’ve invited other organisations to shed light on how they’re combatting gender-based violence and domestic abuse. Join us as we learn, explore strategies, share stories and advocate for a future that ensures all victims are supported.

Author: Katie Osiadacz – TSB Head of Responsible Business

Businesses have a crucial role to play in breaking the silence around domestic abuse for their staff and customers. But in helping survivors break free from such a vicious cycle we must do more than just raising awareness and signposting to support services. The practical realities of escaping from abuse can pose significant barriers to survivors to overcome. All businesses, but especially those offering customer-facing services like banks, can play their part in helping an estimated 2.4 million survivors to overcome these challenges.

While many survivors face the threat of violence, abuse is not just physical, it can also be psychological. This can include economic control and financial dependency on the abuser.

TSB was the first bank to make all its branches ‘safe spaces’ – a place where any victim could find a haven from which they could seek further help and support.

According to Women’s Aid, two thirds of survivors said that abusers were using the cost-of-living increase and concerns about financial hardship as a tool for coercive control. Almost three quarters of women living with or having financial links with their abuser said that the cost-of-living crisis had either prevented them from leaving or made it harder for them to leave.

TSB was the first bank to make all its branches ‘safe spaces’ – a place where any victim could find a haven from which they could seek further help and support.

But it was clear that, by itself, a safe space would not be enough to enable some survivors to make the break with their abuser. That is why, in December last year, TSB launched its ‘Flee Fund,’ offering customers who are impacted by domestic abuse an emergency payment of up to £500 to help escape an abusive relationship.

From the highly emotional feedback that I have received from colleagues who have supported survivors, I know that this has had an enormous impact and undoubtedly saved lives.

Since then, we have helped 166 customers, both men and women, many of whom were accompanied by children, with a payment of up to £500 enabling them to pay for their first few nights of accommodation away from home or food and travel. We have also helped survivors set up new bank accounts where they have lacked the usual credentials needed to prove their identity. From the highly emotional feedback that I have received from colleagues who have supported survivors, I know that this has had an enormous impact and undoubtedly saved lives.

We know domestic abuse impacts communities, customers, and colleagues so we were honoured to have been awarded with the Everyone’s Business Award by Hestia, in conjunction with the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA). The award recognises the package of support we offer TSB colleagues who experience domestic abuse, which now includes the Colleague Flee Fund to help cover essentials at the point of crisis.

Stepping up in the moments that matter and making a difference for people, including our own colleagues, is a core part of our Do What Matters plan. Thanks to Hestia and EIDA for their guidance along the way. 

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Kate Osiadacz has over 25+ years’ experience working in retail banking. She developed TSB Bank’s ‘Do What Matters Plan’ in 2020, emphasizing financial inclusion and fair practices. In December 2022, she expanded support for domestic abuse victims with the emergency flee fund.

This blog was written in a personal capacity and may not reflect the view of the organisation.