SAFETY equipment, support and essential items will be provided by a new night time initiative in Worcester this week.

Worcester Safe Space is launching on Friday, December 15, a pioneering initiative aimed at making the city safer for everyone.

The Safe Space vehicle will be providing skilled paramedics, mental health support, welfare support, drug and alcohol testing, help to find a taxi, a safe space to wait, security alarms and drink StopTopps, emergency mobile phone charging, a change of clothes and bottles of water.   

The vehicle will be stationed at Worcester’s Cornmarket from 10pm to 1.30am before moving location to Angel Place where it will remain in place until 4am.   

The project is being driven by Worcester BID, in partnership with the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, Worcester City Council, West Mercia Police, Worcester Street Pastors, Worcestershire County Council, Crowngate Shopping Centre, University of Worcester, RTN Medical and Universal Display.

Samantha McCarthy, Worcester BID Chief Executive, said: “Over the last 18 months, we have developed and implemented a night-time strategy to support the city licensed venues via achieving the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation, demonstrating excellence in the evening and night-time economy.

"Successfully launching the new Safer Nights Pubwatch scheme and carrying out regular audits and public perception surveys to identify key demands and opportunities to help our night-time economy thrive.

"The Worcester Safe Space project has been developed through working with city centre partners, identifying the key support required to help with operations for a safe night-time economy.

"With an established radio and CCTV system in place and dedicated police for the city during the hours of 10pm – 6am, there was a clear need for medical and welfare support.

"It is often the case that Friday and Saturday nights are overstretched in hospital A&E departments and with the project, we aim to divert some of these people to other appropriate services, to reduce pressure on the emergency services.” 

For more information on the Worcester Safe Space project, you can follow @safespaceworc on social media, and for more Worcester BID's night-time economy initiatives, you can visit the website at www.worcesterbid.com.