Salisbury Reds give cash boost to city Safe Places scheme
It's part of their Community Fund, for the Safer and Supportive Salisbury group
An initiative, designed to provide vulnerable people in Salisbury somewhere to go for support, has been given a financial boost from Salisbury Reds.
The Safe Places scheme uses a network of shops, cafes, public places and other venues in the city centre, where anyone who feels frightened, distressed, disoriented or at risk while they are out-and-about in the area can go to for support and help straightaway.
Our local bus operator has given the project £450 from its Community Fund towards its running.
Safe Place lead, Liz Batten from Safer and Supportive Salisbury said:
"Staff in each safe place provide people with somewhere comfortable and safe in a public area. They will find out what people need and are trained as ‘first line’ level of support to someone in distress.
“We recently re-launched Safe Places in Salisbury, and a number of venues and volunteers have signed up to the scheme. We want to promote it to potential users in a leaflet, which we will distribute in GP practices, assisted living social areas, public information points and through our network of partner organisations."
“With this in mind, we contacted local bus company, Salisbury Reds, through its community fund. We were delighted to receive £450 in funding and communications support from its team - including the chance to highlight the scheme via screens on-board buses. This will go a long way in helping us highlight the help we are offering local people, in their hour of need. I’d like to thank Salisbury Reds for its generosity, and am looking forward to working with its team over the coming months.”
Venues taking part in the scheme display a special sticker prominently in their windows - indicating that they are offering a safe place for anyone who feels they need it.
A free downloadable app is also available which will automatically direct users to the nearest open Safe Place.
Andrew Sherrington, general manager of Salisbury Reds, said:
“Our community fund is designed to give support - financial or otherwise - to local clubs, charities, schools and organisations who provide valuable services to those living in the area.
“Safe Places is an excellent example of this, and I’m delighted we have been able to help.”