‘Safe Places’ initiative to launch in Shropshire and Telford
A new initiative today launches across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin aiming to provide a network of ‘havens’ for people who may require additional support and assistance when they are out and about in the community.
The aim of the ‘Safe Places’ initiative is to provide vulnerable individuals who have learning difficulties or who suffer from problems such as anxiety attacks – with a number of places they know they can go to and immediately receive support and understanding about their issues.
The locations offered as ‘Safe Places’ will have trained staff in place who can deal with any issues they face and, most importantly, they will be able to give a vulnerable person the support they need.
Speaking about the launch of ‘Safe Places’, Ann Shaw – Tactical Equality and Diversity Advisor in Shropshire and Telford said:
“The launch of ‘Safe Places’ is very significant and something we have been planning for some time.
“'Safe Places’ will provide havens for vulnerable people to turn to if they encounter problems when in busy public places. Each location that signs up to the initiative will display a sticker that identifies it as a ‘Safe Place’ and Mencap will provide training to staff at each site to ensure they know exactly what they’re doing.
“Representatives from Mencap, West Mercia Police, Shropshire Council and other local networks have already been out and about in Church Stretton and Shrewsbury signing up local venues to the scheme and over the coming weeks we will be focusing on getting even more venues signed up right across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.”
Councillor Mike Owen, from Shropshire Council, is pleased the initiative is being launched across Shropshire and believes it will be of great benefit to the wider initiative to address Hate Crime in Shropshire that was launched in 2005.
Councillor Owen said:
“It is vital that we support our most vulnerable people and provide the right help. We will work hard to add to the list of local business already signed up as Safe Places in Shropshire.
“We really hope the Safe Places initiative will give people who suffer learning, mental or physical difficulties more confidence to travel independently around Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.
“We also hope that their carers will feel more confident when their loved ones go out as they know that there is always likely to be help nearby.”
The ‘Safe Places’ initiative will be formally launched at The Guildhall, Frankwell in Shrewsbury between 5pm and 6pm.
