A SCHEME to give vulnerable people across Wyre Forest a safe place to go if they are in trouble while out and about has been unveiled.

The Safe Place Scheme was launched on June 25 and will run in Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport town centres.

It offers vulnerable people a safe place to go if they have a problem or worry. All participating venues are identified by having a Safe Place sticker displayed.

Locations have trained staff members that are able to give reassurance and help people contact the appropriate support. The directory of places signed up to the scheme is on the Safer Wyre Forest website.

Funding for the scheme to be rolled out across Worcestershire has been provided by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore, who attended the launch in Wyre Forest, along with councillors, businesses and organisations involved in the initiative.

The scheme is supported by the North and South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnerships and the project is being led by Our Way Self Advocacy.

To date, Wyre Forest, Worcester City and Redditch have set up their Safe Place schemes, with Malvern, Bromsgrove and Wychavon following shortly.

Mr Longmore said: "This scheme that's been put together does a great deal to help vulnerable people, and provides invaluable comfort and support.

“The Safe Place programme has been an excellent initiative, and I really hope that more premises will follow up and take the opportunities to play a similar part."

Kathryn Washington, from the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, said “Safer Wyre Forest and West Mercia Police are pleased to be working in partnership with Our Way to support and develop the Safe Place scheme.

“Supporting vulnerable people and helping them to feel safe and more confident is important to us and we continue to work together to launch the Scheme in town centres across Worcestershire.”

To find out more about the Safe Place Scheme in Worcestershire visit the Safer Wyre Forest website www.nwcsp.org/safe-place-scheme