The Safe Place scheme allows members of the community to receive extra support ranging from providing directions to reporting incidents of hate crime, from businesses with a ‘Making our Community a Safe Place’ sticker in the window.
Safe places in Redcar and Cleveland include cafés, pet shops and – thanks to a motion put forward by Cllr Karen King at a recent full council meeting – council buildings, including local libraries and the Redcar and Cleveland Leisure & Community Heart.
Cllr Karen King, a ward councillor for St Germain’s, said: “I was delighted to receive such a positive response from businesses in my area when I approached them to ask if they would like to be involved in the scheme and then from my fellow Councillors unanimously supporting my motion.
“It shows just how caring and willing to be involved the people of this borough truly are and I look forward to the day when Redcar and Cleveland becomes one of the safest places for all vulnerable people to be out and about in and the greater independence that this will give them.”
A full list of businesses signed up to the Safe Place scheme can be found at: bit.do/safeplacesredcar with anyone welcome to seek support.
Cllr David Walsh, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “I am very happy that the council embraced the Safe Place scheme and opened up council buildings across the borough to anyone needing extra support.
“The scheme is a vital tool for many members of the community, including those with learning disabilities and mental health needs, as well as asylum seekers and refugees. I hope that more businesses across Redcar and Cleveland will start displaying the scheme’s distinctive yellow and orange sticker.”
The scheme has been championed across the Cleveland area by Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger. He said: “This is a very worthwhile idea which illustrates how far the people of Redcar and Cleveland are prepared to go to help the more vulnerable members of our community. It is imperative that those who feel they are in need of help or support know they have somewhere safe to go.
“I’m delighted to support this initiative and it’s really encouraging that so many businesses and organisations have signed up to the scheme.”
For more details on the scheme, go to: www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/Information/Cleveland-Safe-Places-Scheme.aspx