When the Safe Places Shropshire initiative was created in 2013 the scheme was completely new to the area. The project team consisted of various local service user groups, Mencap, Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police.
It quickly became clear that the scheme would need one umbrella organisation to lead and to increase awareness of the assistance that could be made available to anyone who might be vulnerable, for whatever reason. Ruby Hartshorn, who was then Chair of Shropshire Disability Network (SDN), was approached with a view to their trustees agreeing to lead this scheme.
SDN accepted the challenge and has helped Safe Place Shropshire move from strength to strength. We now have over 500 premises signed up as Safe Places. Thousands of ‘Help’ cards have been distributed. We wish to thank SDN and its members for believing in the scheme.
Now that Safe Places has become an established part of the community, the time is right for Safe Places to seek charity status in its own right. As from June 2020, Safe Places Shropshire will no longer be a part of SDN. Work will continue as before.
We are looking forward to signing up our 600th Safe Place as well as organising our 8th birthday celebrations in July 2021. Everyone who is part of the initiative, whether it is as one of our premises or as a volunteer, will be invited to this birthday party. We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us.
Contact details are:
Chair: Ruby Hartshorn safeplaceschair@gmail.com
Secretary: Ann Shaw safeplacessecretary@gmail.com
