A scheme which provides places for vulnerable people to go to if they are abused or harassed in public has been launched in Nottingham City Council’s headquarters and eight city leisure centres.
The council offices, located on Station Street, are now a designated safe place in the community where vulnerable people with learning disabilities can go if they get into trouble or feel unsafe, frightened or bullied
Nottingham City Council has been working with Nottingham Mencap to make sure Loxley House is officially known as a ‘Safe Place’, similar to other venues likes public buildings, shops, libraries, police stations and pubs.
A vulnerable person has a Safe Places Help Card with their name and emergency contact details. If a person needs help when they are in the community, they can show their Help card to a member of staff in a Safe Place. Someone will then call their emergency contact or the Police, depending on what the problem is.
In addition, this month all eight Nottingham City Council leisure centres were also established as Safe Places. Not only does this provide more venues across the city where people with learning disabilities can be sure of a calm, reassuring environment, it also compliments the Council Plan pledge to make Nottingham the fastest growing city for disability sports participation in England.
Along with Nottingham City Council, the scheme is supported by Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, and Nottinghamshire County Council.
Councillor Nicola Heaton, Portfolio Holder for Communities said; “We are really pleased to be working in partnership and want to promote Loxley House as a safe place for vulnerable people.
“It is essential all members of our community feel safe and secure when they are out in Nottingham City.
“People feel safer going out into the community when they know there are Safe Places nearby and I’m delighted Nottingham City Council is part of this scheme.”
Mike Caston, CEO for Nottingham Mencap, said: “A big thank you to Nottingham City Council for helping to expand the Safe Places Scheme in Nottingham. This will be a big support to people with learning disabilities in our communities and will help them access the businesses and services they need to live their lives confidently and independently.”
Nationally 9 out of 10 people with learning disabilities have experienced a hate incident over the last year; this affects their ability to access businesses and services, (e.g. shops and Sports Centres) in the community and lead a full life.
To get a Help Card, Contact Smile! Stop Hate Crime on 0115 920 9524.
More information on the scheme can be found here:
https://www.nottinghammencap.org.uk/What-We-Do/safe-places-scheme.html
The Safe Places scheme will now be in the follow leisure centres.
- Clifton Leisure Centre
- Djanogly Community Leisure Centre
- Harvey Hadden Sports Village
- John Carroll Leisure Centre
- Ken Martin Leisure Centre
- Nottingham Tennis Centre
- Southglade Leisure Centre
- Victoria Leisure Centre
There are 15 City libraries that are Safe Places, click on this link to view each library