Bishop to see work of agencies at night

The Bishop of Ely, Stephen Conway, is to see at first hand the work of agencies concerned with the safety and wellbeing of people out and about in the night-time economy in Cambridge on Good Friday (22nd April).

Agencies have come together to trial a new facility to help people late at night.

Based in the side chapel of St Columba’s Church on Downing Street, and led by Hope Cambridge in partnership with St John Ambulance, the facility will be open from 10pm to 4am during a four night trial period over the forthcoming Easter and Bank Holiday weekends: 22nd April, 29th April, 30th April and 1st May.

The Safe Refuge will be somewhere safe to sit, whether due to distress or difficulty, or simply while waiting for a lift or a taxi home. A Care Team, staffed by volunteers from Hope Cambridge, will be available to provide assistance and advice, whether related to the events of the night or not, and whether practical, emotional or spiritual.

Medical care will be provided if required by a team of St John Ambulance volunteers. Hot and cold soft drinks will be provided free of charge and limited toilet facilities will be available. The facility will provide a warm welcome to all of any faith and none, a place to find help whatever the need or just to sit and chat.

The Refuge will be linked by radio to CCTV, Police and Street Pastors and will work as an integrated part of the provision of care and support available to all during the late night hours.

Bishop Conway will visit the Safe Refuge and will also join the Street Pastors on their patrol.

“It’s obviously important that I know what is happening in our communities at first hand and it has become a feature of many towns and cities that they change their nature completely as the bars open and people start to enjoy themselves. Whilst for the vast majority a night out can be highly enjoyable, there are those for whom a combination of circumstances can lead to various crises and issues which these agencies are trying to deal with,” said Bishop Conway today.

Funding for the trial has been provided by the Cambridge Community Safety Partnership and contributions have also been made by The Regal, Revolution and Hyline Security. Cambridge Street Pastors has helped to recruit and train the Care Team volunteers; most of them experienced Street Pastors. The chapel has generously been made available by the Elders of St Columba’s Church.

Chris Jenkin, a Trustee of Hope Cambridge and Chair of Cambridge Street Pastors said: “We’ve wanted to do something like this for some time, and it’s been really good to team up with other city agencies to make this further contribution to safety and wellbeing in the night-time economy. This will complement the work of the police, door staff, CCTV and of course the Street Pastors who will be patrolling as usual each Friday and Saturday. We hope that everybody that uses the Safe Refuge has a really positive experience and that we can eventually establish a more permanent facility.”