A NEW, permanent home for first responders and support resources opened in central Reading on Thursday, October 5.
Reading Safe Space has now been established at St Mary’s Church House, Chain Street, and is the new home of both First Stop and Reading Street Pastors.
The mayor of Reading, Cllr Tony Page, was joined by Sally Leonard, Reading Street Pastors co-ordinator, and lead councillor for environmental services and community safety, Cllr Karen Rowland, at the opening ceremony
Also in attendance were Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber, Support U’s Lorna McArdle, and Reading Minster Church’s Rvd Sonya Wratten.
First Stop provides first aid support with help from paramedics at South Central Ambulance Service, reducing pressure on the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department.
Street Pastors are volunteers who patrol the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights as points of contact for support regarding emotional and physical well-being.
The new Reading Safe Space is a result of funding from Reading Borough Council’s Safer Streets initiative, in partnership with the University of Reading, the students’ union, and Reading College, and the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Cllr Tony Page said: “The safe space will provide a permanent home for First Stop and Reading Street Pastors who’ve had a hugely positive impact.
“I want to say how proud we are of these services and offer thanks to the paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service who deliver on the spot first aid, reducing visit numbers to A&E.
“And the volunteers at Street Pastors, who patrol the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights offering help to those who need it.”
He explained: “Reading Safe Space will also provide a range of day-time and night-time community safety services, including a safe space for victims of crime to be supported, crime prevention advice, and training.
“I would like to thank Reading Minster and the Diocese of Oxford, who provided us with this space.”
Sally Leonard, Street Pastors co-ordinator, said at the event: “During the last 14 years, the Street Pastors have been rather nomadic, never really having a base of their own.
“We’d like to thank Jo Middlemas and Sarah Gardner at the community partnership team for making funding available for the space.
“And also to the Minster for leasing us the building, and to our trustees for supporting the initiative, which will keep people in the night-time economy safe.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said at the event: “The most important thing about what First Stop and Street Pastors do is protecting vulnerable people particularly in the night-time economy.
“This goes beyond pure policing and the huge amount of work the police do, it can be helping someone get home and making sure they’re safe.
“That really close partnership we see between the police and volunteer groups across the Thames Valley is really important, and being able to have a permanent home in Reading Safe Space will make a massive difference.
He continued: “Not everywhere is as fortunate as Reading to have something like this, and they key thing about having a permanent space is that it becomes recognisable
Karen Rowland, lead councillor for environmental services and community safety, said: “I’m delighted to see Reading Safe Space open in the town centre as this is a vital element of our collective work in Reading around ensuring safety for women and girls in the night-time economy.
“It will give a vital permanent home to both First Stop and the Street Pastors, two crucial town centre services whose work is so greatly valued.
She continued: “We’re proud that this partnership approach is able to ensure both residents and visitors that they can feel safe here and have a safe place to turn to should they need it.
“Importantly, this also removes pressure on the NHS, saving trips to A&E by treating those in need of help on the spot.”
