A new scheme will offer a ‘safe haven’ on Stirling streets.
This comes after a partnership of city organisations have joined together to launch the ‘safe haven’ initiative, Safebase, in Stirling.
Due to a successful pilot the scheme, which provides a safe environment for anyone visiting the city at night, will be available this weekend.
The Safebase team will be out and about this weekend on Friday 17th, and Saturday 18th, as Stirling students return back to campus.
They will operate between 10 pm and 3 am on both Friday and Saturday night, where the ‘safe haven’ will be located at the service entrance of the Thistles on Goosecroft Road.
The team will be there to provide any assistance and support to anyone.
The project, which is supported by Go Forth Stirling, Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, and other agencies, will include volunteer-led first aid patrols.
It will also provide a safe place for people to shelter if they have been left stranded from injury, incapacity or from missing any transport home.
Commenting on the scheme the chair of Safebase Scotland, Richard Mclennan said: “Our aim is to create a safer experience for people who are out enjoying Stirling’s night-time economy.
“Our team can help with a variety of situations – for example, if people are lost or need help to find a taxi home.
“They can carry out first aid which minimises the need for ambulances to come into the city centre and means that injured people may not need to visit A&E.
“We can also provide mental health support by giving people the space to come and chat for a while and we have somewhere safe for individuals to wait while we help them organise transport if they’ve missed the last bus home.
“It’s very much a partnership initiative with everyone working together to triage and resolve situations with the shared goal of making Stirling a safer place.”
While the Safebase will be set up on Goosecroft Road, Stirling Street Pastors will also be patrolling around the city centre to offer anyone help.
Street Pastors and first-aid patrols will be underway in Goosecroft Road, Forth Place, Upper Craigs, King Street, Baker Street, Murray Place, Maxwell Place and other central locations.
Also commenting on the new scheme, Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “Safebase will help make Stirling a secure and welcoming environment for everyone and Go Forth Stirling are delighted to be a partner on this initiative.
“Being part of this scheme illustrates how Go Forth can solidify partnerships which work for the benefit of Stirling.
“Working with the police, public sector and voluntary organisations creates a safer and stronger city centre and helps us ensure that, as our night-time economy reopens and students return to Stirling, everyone has an enjoyable experience.
“It also means we can minimise anti-social behaviour and ensure community safety is promoted.
“Safebase is staffed by individuals from various community partner agencies, and after a successful pilot, the scheme can only grow and continue to demonstrate a positive approach to partnership working for the benefit of Stirling and its patrons.”
The provision of Safebase is expected to lead to a reduced number of crime reports raised while giving reassurance around the fear of crime and, the delivery of safer communities and better public order.
Additionally, the scheme will provide several different services to Stirling residents and visitors including a safe and warm base to shelter, trained staff, information about transport, safety and harm minimisation, and first aiders.
Featured image credit: Harry Williamson
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