Notice: Experience Guildford Host its Safe Place Open Day, Saturday, June 17

Published on: 3 Jun, 2023
Updated on: 3 Jun, 2023

Experience Guildford (the town’s business improvement district scheme) is hosting its Safe Place Open Day at St Mary’s Church, Quarry Street, on Saturday, June 17, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Residents, visitors and local businesses can learn about the scheme and the range of support available.

The Guildford Safe Place scheme has been registered with the National Safe Place Scheme since 2021.

The scheme supports vulnerable young people and adults by providing a network of safe places where people can find a warm and friendly face and necessary refuge.

The Hideaway Cafe with the Safe Places sticker in the window.

The scheme is available to anyone who might feel vulnerable or scared when out in public places.

This could include someone with a learning disability, sensory impairment, autism, dementia, mental health issues or physical disabilities, as well as those affected by domestic abuse.

St Mary’s Church in Quarry Street is a Safe Place.

Delivered by Experience Guildford and Guildford Borough Council, the scheme currently has 21 registered Safe Places throughout the town, signposted by a Safe Place window sticker and with staff trained in delivering a warm and welcoming environment, with the necessary links to local support agencies.

At the open day there will be a selection of local outreach and support services offering information and presentations about the services that they provide.

There will also be the opportunity to network with Guildford’s registered scheme members, plus key charities and agencies such as Guildford Action, Homeless Outreach Support Services, South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Outreach Services, Real Change Guildford, Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy and Voluntary Action South West Surrey, alongside representatives from Surrey Police and the Experience Guildford Town Rangers.

Guildford Baptist Church at Millmead proudly showing its Safe Place sticker.

A Safe Place scheme member, Waitrose, will also be supporting by providing refreshments at the event.

Experience Guildford’s town safety and venue liaison officer Emma White, said: “Guildford’s Safe Place scheme is a fantastic initiative which, thanks to the many partners involved with its delivery, has gone from strength to strength.

“Our open day hopes to extend this success, by both communicating to the public the benefits of the scheme and how they can take advantage of it, as well as inspiring other town centre businesses to get involved.”

For more information and to view the town’s network of registered venues, visit the website here.