Safe Places
What are Safe Places?
Safe Places are shops, cafés, public places and other venues where anyone who feels frightened, distressed, disorientated or at risk while they are out and about in Salisbury can go to ask for support and help straight away. Thanks to support from Salisbury BID, It is part of a National Scheme, but in Salisbury it is administered by Safer and Supportive Salisbury.
We have recently revamped and relaunched the Safe Places scheme in Salisbury. Managers of Safe Places are asked to display the Safe Places logo prominently in their window or front door so it is clearly visible. Supplies of the Safe Places stickers and a resource pack explaining the scheme are handed to staff at the Safe Place whenever a new Safe Place joins the scheme.
What can I expect if I ask for help in a Safe Place?
Staff in the Safe Place will provide you with somewhere comfortable and safe for you to sit in a public area. They will find out from you what support you need. If you carry an ICE card, staff will ask you to show it to them so that they know who you would like called if you need help. The Safe Place will have members of their staff trained as ‘first line’ level of support to someone in distress.
How do I get an ICE Card?
ICE cards are free and can be picked up from the Library, Doctors’ Surgeries, Five Rivers Leisure Centre, ShopMobility and the Information Office at Salisbury’s Guildhall. They are a rigid laminated card to go in a wallet or purse and have a fully writable reverse which allows details to be completed on who should be contacted in the event of an accident or incident. It gives first responders key information on critical health issues; such as medication use, allergies or pre-existing conditions. It is easily identifiable and instantly to hand unlike carrying your details in a mobile phone, which may be locked or difficult to operate.
Information saves time, information saves lives. If you are taken ill or injured, carrying your ICE card could make all the difference. Cards supplied in packs which include key rings and stickers for e.g. your phone case. Clear ‘EMERGENCY’ text and first aid logo visible whichever orientation you place your card into your wallet or purse…
ICE cards are for everyone – Carrying emergency contact details means that your loved ones get informed quickly if there is any emergency and they can help provide medical background and authorise procedures if they are required.
- Children. Travelling to school, on class trips, out at play
- Children with Medical Conditions. Autism, ADHD, Asperger’s.
- Students. Young adults living away from home
- Commuters. Travelling to the office or away on business
- Holiday Makers. Out of town or out of the country
- Specific Medical Conditions. Diabetes, dementia, epilepsy, etc.
- The Elderly. Disabled, physically challenged, living alone
- Anyone.
- Everyone!
What do I need to do to make my venue a Safe Place?
To apply to become a Safe Place, you should be able to provide somewhere comfortable and safe for an individual to sit in a public place. You will be asked to train your staff as ‘first line’ level of support to an individual in distress. Suggested training advice will be provided as part of a resource pack which includes useful contact numbers to have readily to hand for staff to access and Safe Places stickers for you to display. It would be helpful if staff are able to provide a glass of water or other hot or cold drink if the individual requests one.
If you apply to join the Safe Places scheme, representatives of Safer and Supportive Salisbury will call to inspect your venue and to brief you on the scheme.
Register your interest to make your venue a safe place
When did it start?
A Safe Places scheme in Wiltshire was introduced in 2011, starting in Salisbury and Devizes, supported by the Wiltshire Council Community Safety Partnership and the Police and Crime Commissioner. The scheme was intended to support vulnerable people of all kinds when out and about in the community by agreeing with local shops, public services and others providing first level support to people in distress, and displaying a Safe Places sticker prominently in their shop window. A resource pack was given to all Safe Places to guide them on what was expected of them and providing back up contact phone numbers.
The establishment of the scheme was the easy part: the frequent changes of staff and the volatile nature of the High Street meant that a constant refreshing of the scheme by visits to existing Safe Places and recruiting new ones was vital. Safe Places in Salisbury has been one of the most successful in the County and the Safer and Supportive Salisbury Group grew out of the original work. It has evolved into a network that has helped to carry forward the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Agenda with minimal resources.
What is happening now?
The Safe Places scheme has been refreshed in Salisbury and a total of 28 venues have joined the scheme. Thanks to the support of Salisbury BID, we have been able to link to the Safe Places UK scheme and a free app is available so you can locate your nearest Safe Place. Thanks to a grant from Salisbury Reds we have printed a users leaflet which explains how Safe Places work. This is available at information points across the city.
Salisbury Safe Places Award
SaSS has a ringfenced existing donation for a Safe Places Award, made by Salisbury Rotary and once the scheme has been refreshed, the plan is to publish criteria and judge the registered Safe Places so that the Award can be presented.