Safe With Me - providing a safe space for colleagues, volunteers and visitors
Glasgow Life brings people from every background together across our city, and we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment for all colleagues, volunteers, and visitors.
Members of the public already use our buildings as safe places to seek help, reassurance, or a calm space.
Refuweegee's Safe With Me campaign formalises this existing practice by identifying our venues as safe spaces during opening hours.
This campaign does not add new duties or specialist responsibilities to your role. It means offering the same calm, practical support you normally provide when someone needs help.
If someone asks for help or appears distressed:
- Welcome them calmly: Offer a quiet place to sit away from immediate pressure.
- Listen without judgement: Offer water or a hot drink if safe to do so. Respect their privacy and avoid unnecessary questions.
- Assess immediate risk: If there is an active threat or safety concern, alert a senior colleague or call 999 immediately.
- Know your limits: Never put yourself in danger, intervene physically, or mediate a confrontation.
- Offer support and log it: Check if the person needs a friend, family member, or emergency services contacted, and record the incident using local reporting procedures.
For step-by-step guidance, helpful phrases, and emergency protocols, visit the Safe With Me Guidance Webpage.
Supporting our teams
Racist abuse, threats, and hate speech have risen online and in public. We know events like these can be deeply distressing, and their impact is felt across Glasgow Life. It is especially hard for colleagues of colour, those from minority ethnic or faith backgrounds, or anyone targeted because of who they are.
You do not have to manage this alone
If you feel anxious, unsafe, angry, or worn down, that is understandable. If this impacting you, please speak to someone you trust.
If you experience or witness abuse, harassment, or violence, report it right away:
- In an emergency: Call 999.
- For non-emergencies: Call Police Scotland on 101.
- Online: Report hate crime directly at hatecrimeglasgow.org.
If anything happens at work or on your commute, please tell us. Reporting helps us take action to support you.
Support available right now
- Your Line Manager: For safety concerns, workplace adjustments, or practical support.
- PAM Assist: Free, confidential support available 24/7 on 0800 882 4102, via webchat at pam-assist.co.uk, or by emailing counsellingteam@pamassist.co.uk.
- Trade Unions: For independent advice and support at work.
- Hate Crime Support: Visit hatecrimeglasgow.org for local resources.
What we are doing to support you
We are working actively to support colleagues and keep venues welcoming:
- Working directly with Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council.
- Running Hate Crime Awareness training for frontline and customer-facing colleagues.
- Displaying hate crime reporting information across all our venues.
- Giving managers clear guidance to handle customer abuse and racist incidents.
- Creating colleague support networks to build connection and belonging.