Weymouth Street Pastors concerned as Safe Space taken away

The Weymouth Safe Space project, funded by Dorset Council, is based in St Mary's Church in Weymouth town centre.

It is home to the Weymouth Street Pastors, a group of volunteers who provide medical support for night time revellers and anyone on the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.

Although the pastors will continue to help people on their patrols, losing their Safe Space means medical service Acute Medical Care, based in the space, will no longer be able to help and has led to concerns people won't be able to find the street pastors.

The street pastors received the devastating news that there was no further funding to keep the Safe Space open following a ‘really busy New Year’s Eve’.

Left: Andrew Reid alongside Weymouth Street Pastors, Acute Medical team and the security staff (Image: Acute Medical Care)

Although there are hopes that funding for Safe Space will return by the spring, the team provides an all year-round service’.

Andrew Reid, street pastors coordinator, said: “On New Year’s Eve, we put two teams out and Safe Space was really busy and the reason we are busy is because people trust us.

“If we lose this, we are worried that we are going to have to rebuild that trust - I know a lot of people are used to us being there.”

Inside Safe Space (Image: Hollie Carr)

Mr Reid added: “Last year we were so busy in January and February, we go out all year round – it’s a vital service and somewhere that people can go and be safe.

“We are trying to find alternative methods of keeping it open because it has been a great room for us, it’s trusted by people, and they come in on their own – people know where it is.”

The Weymouth Street Pastors were founded 15 years ago with Safe Space being an idea that followed the pandemic around two years ago.

Mr Reid said: “Safe Space was funded from government money to keep people safe coming out of the pandemic, that money is gone, Dorset Council do not have the money to fund us, but they will review it in April at the beginning of the financial year.

“We are extremely grateful for what they have provided us. When we started, we had no idea that Safe Space would turn into a vital community hub.”

Safe Space is accessible inside St Mary's Church (Image: Maps)

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “The funding has not been cut, but we have to be prudent with the funding to make sure it is spent in the most beneficial way, so this is something that happens annually when the night-time economy in Weymouth slows down between January and March.

“We’re committed to supporting the Safe Space for as long as the external funding allows, and we anticipate re-establishing the service towards Easter when the economy inevitably picks up.”