The Safe Place Scheme is a nationwide initiative originally established by Mencap in Worcestershire for people with learning disabilities, brought to Shropshire in 2013 to include anyone who may be vulnerable when out and about.
Safe Places Shropshire is supported by Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council and West Mercia Police.
It provides a network of ‘short-term safe havens’ for people who may require additional support and assistance when they are out and about in the community. The aim of ‘Safe Places’ is to provide vulnerable individuals with a number of places that they know they can go to and immediately receive support and understanding about their issues. This includes people with learning disabilities or those who live with anxiety attacks or dementia.
How does it work?
It is a simple system, each location that signs up to the initiative will display a sticker that identifies it as a ‘Safe Place’. To make this contact easier the vulnerable person may have a “I need Help” card with details of who to contact on their behalf. Although this is not needed, it can sometimes speed up getting the extra support that they need.
Who can use Safe Places?
Anyone. This scheme gives people more confidence to travel independently around Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. It will also allow carers to feel reassured that there is always likely to be help nearby for their loved ones.
It helps to have a card with the details of someone to contact but you don't need to have it.
To get a card contact:
Email: safeplaceschair@gmail.com or safeplacessecretary@gmail.com
Text or phone: 07941398933 or 07970816030
What places are there?
Safe Places are many and varied. The range and number keeps on expanding so the locations and map we have may not show all of them but it is regularly updated.
View the locations of Space Places on Google maps:
There are Safe Places across Telford and Wrekin, and Shropshire. Just keep an eye out for the sticker.
If you see somewhere that you think would make a good Safe Place but does not have a sticker, let us know. We can contact the people who run it and see if they would like to join.
I would like to have a card?
Brilliant, get in contact with us, we can get one out to you, or you can pick them up from places. We have focussed on people with learning disabilities initially, but the scheme is open to everybody.
Email: safeplaceschair@gmail.com or safeplacessecretary@gmail.com
Text or phone: 07941398933 or 07970816030
I have a business and would like to be involved?
That's excellent news. Please get in contact with us. We have a couple of questions but we welcome supporters from across the borough.
Email: safeplaceschair@gmail.com or safeplacessecretary@gmail.com
Text or phone: 07941398933 or 07970816030
I just want to know more, what can I do?
View the video clip that Cornwall Council have produced that explains the scheme really well.
Visit the Cornwall Safe Places website and don't forget to tell them what you think about it.
We are happy to chat to you about any aspect of the scheme. Just give us a call, e-mail or drop by - visit the Safe Places Shropshire website.
Last updated: 07/02/2023 09:44
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