We’re happy to help

MORE than 30 people attended an open evening at St Stephen’s Church in late February to hear about volunteering opportunities at Exeter’s Safe Space.

The Safe Space is Exeter’s safe haven for anyone enjoying a night out in the heart of the city and is recruiting volunteers to help improve the safety of women and girls. The recruitment event was for anyone interested in joining the volunteer programme and it was very well supported with the first training cohort over-subscribed after the event.

The Safe Space has three main purposes - providing light medical treatment (cuts, sprains, recovery, blisters), welfare support (like phone charging, water, safety alarms, bottle tops, change of clothes) and a safe place to wait for night buses. It is open three nights a week Wednesday (term time), Friday and Saturday – from 23:00 to 03:30am.

“We were very pleased with the response to the evening and number of people both signing up and those who just wanted to learn more about what a volunteer would be doing during a shift,” said Ann Hunter, from InExeter, who manages the Safe Space.

“The volunteering programme will offer many opportunities to learn new skills and meet people. And it will help us to make Exeter an even safer place for everybody.”

The Safe Space is a facilitated by InExeter and funded by Safer Exeter with a grant from the Government’s Safer Streets scheme.

It works closely with agencies and partners such as Exeter street pastors, the police, Exeter Business Against Crime, Best Bar None, the LVA and others to deliver the service.

If you are interested in finding out more on the Safe Space visit the website: https:// www.exetersafespace.com (currently in build) or email: info@exetersafespace.com

“We would encourage anyone planning to go out in the city to look out for the stickers which are displayed by venues to show they have signed the Charter because you know they are committed to keeping you safe.

If not, why not?

“If your local or places you visit regularly aren’t showing a sticker ask them if they have signed the charter and if not, why not?”

You can find out which organisations have signed up to the charter or, how your organisation can sign up, here: exeter.gov.uk/cleansafe-city/ community-safety/ safety-of-women-atnight-charter/ committing-to-thecharter/