Medway Safe Spaces scheme

Medway Safe Spaces is a voluntary scheme that aims to assist vulnerable people to feel safer when travelling independently within Medway.

Becoming a registered Medway Safe Space can help your business become a vital part of your community, ensuring you are there for local residents and visitors to Medway when they may need immediate help.

We can never predict when a medical incident, a family issue or another event could suddenly impact our lives.

View businesses signed up to the Safe Spaces scheme

The scheme is open to businesses across Medway operating in a public-facing setting.

A safe place can be a:

• shop
• office
• restaurant
• bar or pub
• public building such as a library.

By becoming a Medway Safe Space, you will act as a point of contact for your community in circumstances where an individual may require immediate help.

This scheme is intended to provide a short-term safe space

You are not expected to provide ongoing support or become involved in any complex situations.

By becoming a member of the scheme, you agree to:

• display Medway Safe Spaces materials to advertise your involvement in the scheme, including window stickers and posters
• support a vulnerable person who on arrival to your building may feel unwell, confused, lost or have been a victim of crime by providing a welcoming and safe environment
• establish how you can help
• contact either the emergency services, a family member, or a friend who they wish you to contact
• look after the person while you wait for further assistance by providing a private area for them to stay calm, perhaps offering a hot or cold drink to help them settle.

Other responsibilities include:

• it would be good practice to have 2 members of staff available to help
• to have accessible premises
• for those businesses with Shopwatch radios, these could be used to call for assistance where appropriate
• if a person who has asked for help needs to use the phone, this needs to be in a publicly accessible area or via a cordless phone
• if you have any immediate safeguarding concerns, then please visit our social care and health page for support
• if there is a crime in progress or a person is in immediate danger, phone 999.

By becoming a Medway Safe Space, you are also there for members of the public who may need general advice, directions or public transport information.

There are many benefits to becoming a member of the Medway Safe Spaces scheme, including:

• increased public awareness of your business or service (we will be listing businesses who are involved so you can be found by those using the scheme) 
• improvement of your business image in the community
• increasing the confidence of people who are travelling alone or are separated from family and friends
• improving the general awareness of helping people with a disability or those who may be vulnerable
• helping people in a vulnerable situation and providing a safety net when they need more confidence to get out and about.

To register to become a Medway Safe Space, please complete the form below and email it to cst@medway.gov.uk along with the following details included:

• the name of your business
• the number of colleagues that will represent the business as a Medway Safe Space
• the name of the business owner or manager.

Download the Medway Safe Spaces sign-up form. 

You will receive a response from a member of our Safe Spaces team to get your business registered onto the scheme.