Volunteers needed for Get Home Safe Campaign in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Volunteers are being sought to continue the running of a initiative aimed at making women and girls feel safer in public spaces.
The “Get Home Safe” campaign – initially launched in March 2022 with Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and the Borough Council – was aimed at making women and girls feel safer when on a night out in the town centre.
Home Office funding awarded to the Staffordshire Commissioner, following a successful bid to the Safety of Women at Night Fund, supported the initial set up of the campaign, which saw a vacant unit at Lancaster Building, Ironmarket turned into a safe space.
Newcastle-under-Lyme BID are now seeking volunteers to support the safe hub from July for three months with a view to apply for further Safer Streets Funding to continue the campaign into 2023.
“The BID is very keen to make Newcastle a safe place to work, live and socialise and we work very
closely with our night time economy and partners to ensure this is maintained,” said BID Manager Charl Pearce.
“We had such a good response from members of the public when we managed the campaign from
March to April, and when it ended we received a lot of enquiries asking if it would continue past the four week pilot.
“The campaign is a zero-tolerance approach to any harassment of women and it is such an important initiative to continue providing – but we need volunteers to help us now.”
The hub – which is being provided by the Borough Council for free – will be located in the same place at Lancaster Building in July and will be open on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Charl added: “The hub will be open from 9pm to 2am, and volunteers will be there to provide
support for women who may need help with arranging transport home, charging of mobile phones, providing safety aids to women who may find themselves vulnerable or signposting to relevant services.”
Support workers, police officers, security partners all provided support in the first phase of the campaign and will again join volunteers and representatives from Newcastle-under-Lyme BID on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Charl added: “All volunteers will be able to choose which hours and nights they are able to help and training will be provided. We are also applying for Safer Streets Funding to further extend the campaign which would mean we could run until September 2023.”
Anyone who would like to express an interest in becoming a volunteer are asked to contact: he***@*******co.uk
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