Hairdressers, nail technicians and spa workers in the Lancaster district are being offered free training to help them spot and support clients who may be experiencing domestic abuse. As of 3 February 2026, the programme is available to personal care businesses in Lancaster as part of a wider county‑wide Lancashire campaign to turn salons and treatment rooms into safe spaces for the community.
The training is funded by the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, and builds on the trusting relationships between beauty professionals and their clients. Staff learn to recognise signs of harm, including visible injuries such as bruising, and how to have a safe conversation that signposts clients towards professional help.
Business owners can access the one‑to‑two hour online course via the county’s No Excuse For Abuse campaign portal and Lancashire PCC signposting pages. The effort — promoted under the #NailDomesticAbuse campaign — also supplies participating salons with window stickers and discreet mirror decals that include QR codes linking to support services.
Local support and further information are available through Lancaster City Council’s domestic abuse support directory and local specialist charities. The training also highlights charities such as Lancashire Women and its ‘Eyes Wide Open’ programme, which provide group support and safety advice for residents across the district.
The push for training forms part of a broader drive to protect residents and reduce repeat offending by using everyday appointments with stylists and therapists as opportunities to offer a route to help. Local leaders say these measures will help reach people who might not otherwise speak to the police about their situation.
