Banking organisation TSB has rolled out a Flee Fund to support employees experiencing domestic, financial or economic abuse..
The Flee Fund, which was developed in partnership with Hestia and Surviving Economic Abuse, was initially introduced to customers in December 2022 in response to the Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, who advised employers to create one.
It provides urgent financial support of up to £500 to help domestic abuse survivors escape an abusive situation and cover the cost of essentials that may be barriers to leaving an abusive relationship, such as accommodation, travel, clothing and toiletries. To access the fund, employees can speak in confidence to their manager or the bank’s human resources team, who have received specialist training to spot signs of domestic abuse. They can also visit a TSB bramch to access the support.
Katie Osiadacz, head of responsible business at TSB, said: “We have seen first-hand the impact our emergency Flee Fund plays in helping survivors of domestic abuse take urgent action to escape their abusive and dangerous situation. Having operated our own Flee Fund for almost a year, it’s clear a unified approach across government, business and charities is needed to ensure survivors can access the emergency support they need.”