Safe Spaces - Why they matter now more than ever
- SLS 360
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
By Samantha Stimpson (Founder & CEO: SLS 360)
A few years ago, I was invited to run a workshop at a school in East London. It was meant to be a simple session on identity and belonging. What I didn’t expect was what happened halfway through, when a student raised her hand and said, “This is the first time I’ve felt like I didn’t have to explain myself.”
Her words stayed with me. Not because the session was perfect (it wasn’t), but because in that moment, she felt safe. She felt seen. And for many people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, that’s not something they experience every day.
The Quiet Power of Feeling Safe
Safe spaces aren’t about avoiding tough conversations or proclaiming spaces are safe. In fact, they’re about an intention to create an environment for those conversations to happen in the first place. When people feel psychologically safe, they’re more likely to share their truth, to listen deeply and to challenge assumptions including their own.
But creating that safety isn’t accidental. It takes intention, humility, and consistency.
In recent weeks, a UK study made headlines by highlighting just how fractured many of our communities have become. According to the research, nearly a third of British adults say they rarely interact with anyone from a different background.
That’s not just a missed opportunity for learning, it’s a warning sign. Without safe, inclusive spaces to connect across differences, we risk becoming more divided, more fearful, and more reactive.
What Safe Spaces Actually Look Like
They’re not always grand. They don’t require fancy venues or perfect facilitation. They look like:
A teacher who pauses the lesson to make sure every voice is heard.
A manager who checks in with their team not just about the work, but about how they’re doing.
A community centre that offers translation support so no one feels left out.
A youth worker who holds space for young people to share what’s really going on for them.
In each of these moments, the message is the same: “You belong here. Your story matters.”
Why It Matters Now
With global tensions rising and political discourse becoming more polarised, there’s a real risk that fear will shape how we engage with one another. But safe spaces offer a different path. One rooted in empathy, curiosity, and hope. They remind us that connection is still possible, even across deep differences.
The challenge is making these spaces the norm, not the exception.
That means putting funding behind inclusion work. It means training leaders and educators in how to facilitate with care. And it means listening, really listening, to the communities we’re trying to serve.
Because at the end of the day, creating safe spaces isn’t just about making people feel comfortable. It’s about creating the conditions for real, lasting change.
I think back to that young student often. Her voice was quiet, but her message was loud and clear. People know when they’re safe. And they know when they’re not.
What we’re doing at SLS 360
SLS 360 supports organisations and individuals to be bold and brave in your efforts to affect positive change. For more information on SLS 360 and the I.D.E.A.L Network, visit www.sls360.org. You can also subscribe to receive our fortnightly audio cast, monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about special offers and events in the world of inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
📩 Reach out to us at info@sls360.org to start the conversation.
🌐 Visit www.sls360.org to find out more.
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