Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Boots pharmacies provide safe space for domestic abuse victims

Domestic abuse charity Hestia has launched an initiative through which victims of domestic abuse can now contact support services from the multiple’s consultation rooms across 2,400 Boots pharmacies in the UK during the COVID-19 lockdown. The service was launched as part of its ‘UK Says No More’ campaign on Friday (1).

The charity said that it had seen a 47 per cent rise in victims using its free domestic abuse support app Bright Sky during the lockdown.


Boots’ counter staff will guide them to the safe space installed in the consultation rooms where they will find 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline, the men’s advice line and phone numbers for services specific to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“We recognise that key workers in pharmacies hold a unique position within the community as a single point of contact for victims,” Hestia Head of ‘UK Says No More’ campaign Lyndsey Dearlove said.

“By creating this safe space in Boots pharmacies, we hope many will be able to safely access support whilst following Government guidelines. We hope more pharmacies will follow Boots UK’s lead and join the ‘safe space’ initiative,” she added.

Chief Pharmacist Boots UK, Marc Donovan, said: “Our pharmacies have long been a place where people can turn to for help and advice on their local high street. At times like these, our 2,400 stores in communities across the UK take on increased importance, as a place of safety for those who need one.

“We hope that making our consultation rooms safe spaces we can help people find the support they need at this difficult time, when many other options are temporarily unavailable.

“This is something our pharmacy teams feel very passionately about, and would like to thank them for stepping forward to help at a time when they are under tremendous pressure.”

A survivor of domestic abuse, who lived in a Hestia domestic abuse refuge, said: “Being able to contact a domestic violence helpline in this way will be life changing for many.”

Other pharmacies are encouraged to join the initiative

Sandra Gidley, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “During the pandemic, when options for survivors and victims are even more limited than usual, pharmacies can provide the safe environment needed to get support.

“The trust that the public have in pharmacies make them an ideal place to access help and take a step away from harm towards a better future.”

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said: “We are encouraging all pharmacies to consider becoming a safe space, to help people experiencing domestic abuse access vital support they may need."

More For You

food-delivery-getty

Uber Eats and Deliveroo will tighten ID checks, including facial verification, to curb illegal migrant work after UK government pressure. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Food delivery platforms to step up ID checks after migrant work abuse reports

FOOD delivery companies Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have agreed to strengthen security measures, including facial verification checks, to prevent irregular migrants from working through their platforms, following criticism from the UK government.

The announcement came after the Labour government summoned the three firms for a meeting in response to a report by The Sun which exposed how some migrants were bypassing rules and working illegally in the gig economy sector.

Keep ReadingShow less
David Joseph

Joseph has chaired several BRIT Awards shows and was an executive producer of the Oscar and BAFTA-winning 2015 documentary Amy.

David Joseph named new CEO of the RSA

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS (RSA) has announced the appointment of David Joseph CBE as its next chief executive officer. He will take over the role in September, succeeding Andy Haldane.

Joseph previously served as chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK for 17 years. During his time at the company, he oversaw its transformation into a global exporter of British music and worked with several major international artists.

Keep ReadingShow less
Labour Rift Deepens as MPs Prepare for Crucial Welfare Bill Vote

People take part in a protest against disability welfare cuts on June 30, 2025 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

MPs to vote on welfare bill amid Labour divisions

DOZENS of Labour MPs are expected to vote against the government’s welfare reforms despite recent concessions aimed at easing opposition.

The government had initially planned to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (Pip) but later said the stricter rules would only apply to new claimants from November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
We The Women makes UK debut with stories of courage and truth

Sudha Murthy and Karan Johar

Image Credits: Barkha Dutt / We The Women / Mojo Story

We The Women makes UK debut with stories of courage and truth

Mahesh Liloriya

The acclaimed women-led festival We The Women, curated by veteran journalist Barkha Dutt, made its powerful UK debut on June 29 at London’s Riverside Studios. Presented in partnership with Vedanta, the event brought together transformative voices from India and the British-Indian diaspora, showcasing unfiltered, emotional, and often raw storytelling.

Among the standout moments was Rashmika Mandanna’s candid discussion on her values-first approach to fame. The actor received thunderous applause when she shared, “I’ve said no to scripts because they required me to smoke. If I don’t feel good about something, I won’t do it.” Her firm stance echoed the festival’s core ethos, prioritising authenticity over popularity.

Keep ReadingShow less
Telangana-blast-Reuters

Rescue workers look for survivors after an explosion and fire at a chemical factory, in Sangareddy, Telangana, India, June 30, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

India chemical factory blast death toll rises to 39, probe underway

THE DEATH toll from the explosion and fire at the Sigachi Industries chemical factory in Sangareddy, Telangana, has risen to at least 39, officials said on Tuesday, as rescue teams continued clearing debris for a second day.

The explosion occurred on Monday and turned large parts of the building into rubble. State authorities confirmed the toll had risen to 39, Reuters reported. Thirty-four others were injured in the incident, according to officials.

Keep ReadingShow less