Safe Places Scheme relaunches in Salisbury, across 25 venues

The scheme supports distressed, overwhelmed or lost people in the city centre

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 14th Jul 2023

25 shops, cafes and other venues have signed up to the relaunched Safe Places scheme.

The scheme offers people who feel frightened, disorientated or at risk a place where they can find help and support quickly.

Among the venues on the scheme are Salisbury Cathedral, Fisherton Mill and Waterstones, as well as the White Hart Hotel, which will be a 24/7 Safe Place.

Having originally been set up in 2013, Safer and Supportive Salisbury have worked alongside Salisbury BID to revamp the programme, while Salisbury Reds also provided funding for the scheme to restart.

The Salisbury Reds funding, which came from the Salisbury Reds Community Fund, has allowed a 'users' leaflet to be produced, which will be available free in public spaces across the city, to promote awareness of the scheme.

Salisbury Reds buses will also carry digital advertising.

Scheme Lead Liz Batten said: " We all want the same thing – to make Salisbury a safe and supportive place to live, shop and visit.”

Managers of the locations participating in the scheme are asked to display the scheme's logos prominently in their windows or front doors, to make each location clearly visible to those who need it.

All locations will be required to train staff to deliver a 'first in line' level of support to a person in distress.

A free downloadable app can assist people in finding their closest open Safe Place - and if there is no open Safe Place, the app will offer to call 101 to get help over the phone.

There's always room for more venues to join the scheme which interested organisations can do by emailing sassalisbury5@gmail.com.

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