Supporting Safe Places with the Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust
The Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust (WBCT) is to take the lead in the delivery of the Safe Places scheme in Whitehill & Bordon with support from East Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) Healthy New Town programme.
In October 2017, the Safe Places scheme was launched in Whitehill & Bordon as part of EHDC’s Healthy New Town programme to offer refuge to vulnerable people whilst they are out in the community. Safe Places are a place for them to go if they are in need. At the venues, staff trained in basic safeguarding procedures will provide a quiet space for the vulnerable person to seek help and if needed find ways for someone to get professional support.
After the Healthy New Town programme successfully established 7 local Safe Places, WBCT will now ensure the successful continuation of the roll out of the Safe Places programme as part of the legacy for the Healthy New Town programme.
The WBCT’s Manager Hannah Ashwell says ‘Going out in town when you are vulnerable or need support can sometimes feel overwhelming and a barrier to being part of the community. People can sometimes become lost, confused, or just need a place to rest. Safe Places offer people just that in some of the friendliest and most neighbourly places in our town.
Safe Places can give people confidence to leave their homes knowing that there are trained individuals in these buildings who are there to help. We look forward to taking the programme forward and finding new organisations to take part.’
Cllr Ferris Cowper, EHDC’s Portfolio Holder for Whitehill & Bordon, said: “This is a really important initiative for Whitehill & Bordon and we are delighted the Community Trust is helping us continue, improve and expand the scheme, as keeping residents feeling safe while out and about in the town is a major priority.”
Easily identified by the yellow and red stickers in their windows or on their doors, the current Safe Places in Whitehill & Bordon are: The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre, The Forest Community Centre, The Forest Surgery, Badgerswood Surgery, St Mark’s Church, Café 1759 and Tesco. By providing ongoing training and support, the WBCT will bring new establishments into this network and increase the coverage of the programme. There will also be opportunities for people in the town to find out more about how they can do their bit to make our community kinder and safer.
If you run a local shop, public building or community venue, please contact WBCT on 01420 558085 or info@wbcommunitytrust.co.uk to find out how you can join the scheme.
Comments