Venues to offer safe spaces
AFUNDRAISING appeal has been launched in a bid to create a network of 100 venues across the borough as part of a community safety initiative.
Created by Rossendale councillors Gemma Rooke and Samara Barnes, Safer Rossendale is a simple scheme which sees local businesses across Rossendale become Safe Venues.
These venues will then offer a place of safety to those who may need it they can pop in, use the phone, contact support if needed and stay there until they feel they can leave.
Businesses are identified with a bright coloured vinyl sticker in the window - and people can access the venue, no questions asked, with no need to purchase anything once they are there.
The scheme was developed following the safe space support that the pair offered people in the community during the Euros last year.
Gemma and Samara identified that some people did not feel safe at home while the football was on, so they offered sanctuary, tea and biscuits in a church hall while the final games were played.
The pair say Rossendale Police, Lancashire Women and Rossendale council have offered backing to the initiative and they hope to involve the smaller villages and rural parts of the borough as well as the larger towns.
They are currently crowdfunding to ensure they can launch with 100 venues across the borough. £10 pays for a business to become a Safer Rossendale venue.
To donate to the crowdfunder visit gofund. me/38d5646c
There is more information about the scheme on the Safer Rossendale Facebook page.
If you run a Valley business and would like to find out about becoming a Safer Rossendale venue, email SaferRossendale@ gmail.com