Women's Street Watch Middlesbrough are helping students stay safe on nights out

They are hoping to reduce pressure put on emergency services during fresher's week.

Author: Sophie GreenPublished 19th Sep 2024

An organisation in Middlesbrough are helping students stay safe whilst they are on a night out in the town.

Women's Street Watch Middlesbrough can be spotted by their bright pink hi-vis jackets, handing out Stop Topps and helping women get home safely into the early hours of the weekend.

Beth McLean, who set up the group, said: "Freshers is a time where you may be going to different bars, meeting new people and you might drink more than you usually do. It's just really important to know that we're there on a Saturday night if you feel vulnerable or if you just need a friendly safe space to sit with you and wait with you while you try and find your way back.

"We give people period products for free, flip flops for people that are in heels or have no shoes on. We can give out hot drinks and snacks in the winter as well as gloves and scarves and hats.

"We just wait with people while they either want to get a taxi or trying to reunite them with their friends. We can do that by charging people's phones up.

"To contact us if you're feeling unsafe, there's a phone number that's on our social media. You can message us on Facebook or Instagram, or if you see us when we're patrolling, we're in pink hi-vis vests and really visible.

"So please just come and find us, say hello, and if you need us, when you feel vulnerable, we'll be there as a friendly safe space."

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