Safety Bus scheme expanded to protect student community in Cardiff

The project has been in existence for around a decade, but for the first time, the mobile responder teams now have two fully-equipped Safety Buses as a result of Home Office Safer Streets funding having been granted in the last year. Defibrillators, First Aid equipment, folding wheelchairs and power-packs for mobile phones and laptops are part of the mix.

What’s more, the SafeZone app from CriticalArc which is also promoted by the team, allows those at risk to request immediate support for themselves and others and be privy to First Aid treatment if necessary.

To prevent individuals from becoming the victims of crime, including drink spiking, those who are vulnerable can also be taken by the Safety Bus teams to a safe place: back home, to A&E, to the Alcohol Treatment Centre or to be reunited with friends and family.

The Safety Bus scheme receives yearly funding from a range of partner organisations and operates every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (with additional event nights across the city). For every Freshers period, there’s extended coverage. This year, that coverage includes the 17-day period from 15 September to 2 October, which is the start of term for Cardiff’s universities and colleges.

Broadening the remit

Although the focus for the Safety Bus scheme began with Cardiff’s student community, the team will help any member of the public who needs assistance. In fact, since September 2021 alone, more than 2,850 people have been assisted in this way. Now, the initiative has been extended.

Mike Neate, police community safety student liaison officer and chair of the Police Association of Higher Education Liaison Officers, stated: “From this year, we will be able to operate two Safety Buses thanks to Home Office Safer Streets funding and sponsorship from organisations including CriticalArc. The additional funds are also allowing us to develop bespoke mental health First Aid training for all our volunteers.”

Neate continued: “Mental health and well=being is a matter of increasing concern. For their part, students can be particularly vulnerable when they first leave home. In addition, the problems that people experience can be made worse by alcohol or controlled substances.”

The Safety Bus initiative is run with the support of Cardiff University, Cardiff Met, the University of South Wales, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the University of Wales Trinity St David. Volunteers are recruited from all of these seats of learning.

Students and staff from Cardiff University and the University of South Wales also have the added protection of SafeZone, which makes it easy for them to call for advice, assistance or emergency help on a 24/7 basis, wherever they are, and for their locations and identities to then be seen by emergency responders.

Wider partnership

Bringing together the Safety Bus initiative as a wider partnership has many benefits, including allowing university welfare teams to provide better support to students and freeing-up police officers’ time such that they can focus on crime prevention where it’s most needed.

There are significant benefits for the volunteers as well. Participation provides a way in which young people can contribute to the community, gain valuable experience and grow in confidence. Many of those who’ve participated in the scheme have gone on to build careers in or around the criminal justice system.

Mike Neate observed: “There are now serving officers across the UK, from the Metropolitan Police Service through to the Thames Valley Police and on to Gwent Police who were volunteers with us five years ago. They include police constables and Police Community Support Officers. Others are working in probation, criminal justice and the law courts.”

Unified platform

CriticalArc’s SafeZone technology is a unified platform for safety, security, emergency management and well-being support. It’s now used by more than half of UK universities, as well as NHS Trusts, to improve safety and well-being support for thousands of students and staff.

Among the technology’s many capabilities and benefits, it enables those end users with the SafeZone phone app to request immediate assistance for themselves and others, including rapid support for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

“We are pleased to be lending our support to the Safety Bus initiative, including the technology itself and assistance with the new mental health First Aid training,” noted Darren Chalmers-Stevens, CriticalArc’s chief operating officer. “This scheme aligns with our values. It’s all about building safer communities and encouraging people to look out for each other and take positive action when and where it’s needed.”

*For more information on CriticalArc and SafeZone visit www.criticalarc.com