A late night safe-haven available to people enjoying a night out is returning to Nottingham this December.
St John Ambulance medical team have a treatment centre open from 9pm to 5am in the Old Market Square every weekend until the turn of the year, including on New Year’s Eve, to keep people safe and support the night-time economy.
The scheme is a prevention and early intervention activity which aims to provide a visible trusted point of contact for those at risk, vulnerable or in need of help and advice, as well as ensuring high standards of pre-hospital care can be given to people socialising in the city centre throughout the evening and early hours of the morning.
It will also reduce demand on partners including Nottinghamshire Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Nottingham University Hospitals during one of the busiest times of the year.
The extra presence has been made possible through funding through the Late-Night Levy (LNL) hosted by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire and the Violence Reduction Partnership.
The Violence Reduction Partnership is Home Office funded and responsible for the strategic leadership and coordination of activity across the City and County to reduce and prevent serious violence using a public health approach. The VRP team is a function of the Nottinghamshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, and Chair of the Violence Reduction Partnership, Gary Godden, said: “Nottingham is famous for being a great night out where people from far and wide will come to celebrate in the build-up to Christmas and over the festive period.
“With the help of St John Ambulance we are ensuring people can enjoy themselves while feeling safe and assured that help is available if they need it.
“My thanks go to the St John volunteers as well as all of the emergency service workers who are on duty over Christmas and serving our communities at one of the busiest times of the year.”
The St John Ambulance teams will offer a variety of support services, including paramedics, nurses, emergency ambulance crew, emergency responders and both basic and advanced first-aiders, should the need arise.
Qualified medical teams can also provide time-critical help including transfer to hospital and advanced skills, including wound closure and management of life-threatening conditions.
In addition, a safe space treatment facility will be based on Nottingham’s Old Market Square to provide those who are vulnerable with a space to get advice or guidance, treatment for medical conditions and even helpful services like a space to rest and charge their mobile phone, to ensure they can continue their night out safely.
The service has been provided every Friday and Saturday since the start of December and will be out three more times before the new year, on December 21, 28, 31.
The purpose of the levy is to create a safer night time economy in Nottingham City. It is managed through the Late Night Levy Steering group which is a multi-agency partnership of local agencies.
Liam Hotham, District Community Response Lead, St. John Ambulance, said: “Like many town and city centres, Nottingham will come alive with revellers in the coming month. My team and I are looking forward to working with Nottinghamshire Police, and continuing our historic working partnership, to keep people in and around Nottingham safe this festive season.”
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