News & Events

Newquay BID (Business Improvement District) launched its new Safe Space Initiative on 14th May at Newquay Library.

The new Safe Spaces in 17 local businesses have all the necessary understanding to support a person seeking help and have a list of wider support agencies to contact in order to signpost to the support required. This support may simply be a call home or to someone to come and pick them up. If they have been a victim of crime or feels they are at risk the support would be to call 999.

The initiative has included training from CLEAR, and support from Devon & Cornwall Police, Newquay Town Council, local businesses, and the Town Mayor.

This initiative adds value to an already well-structured support system within the town through new allocated and recognised Safe Spaces provided by local business within the community. Funding has been provided by Devon & Cornwall Police and the Boardmasters Foundation.

Mark Warren, Newquay BID says “We feel that the town is fast becoming an even more welcoming and safe space, we already have a whole town approach system with communications between CCTV and businesses. Our new Safe Space initiative will provide an additional layer of safety within the community that is supported by local businesses, Devon and Cornwall police, and the Town Council.

“Newquay has significantly reduced crime rates over recent years and this is a further proactive step to prioritising personal safety 24/7 with particular focus on the night-time economy as well as providing safe spaces throughout the daytime.”

Andrew Topham, CEO and Founder of Boardmasters Festival said, “We’re delighted that through the Boardmasters Foundation we’re able to support the Newquay Safe Spaces initiative, extending the ground-breaking safety work we do on site into town. We’ve always been proud to call Newquay our home, even more so now through this new, collaborative project, which is driven by a shared dedication to the town’s community and its visitors. We look forward to seeing the scheme roll out in the coming months, as well as during Boardmasters festival.”

Inspector Guy Blackford, Devon and Cornwall Police says, “We welcome the Newquay Safe Spaces initiative to help protect vulnerable people in the area and the collaborative approach with key local stakeholders.
Our officers are making great strides in continuing to improve safety in Newquay, the Safe Spaces initiative provides an additional space for vulnerable people to seek safety and help.
We are excited to support this new initiative to improve safety in the town, and to help combat violence against women and girls, which is one of our three key priorities.”

Margaret North, Mayor of Newquay said “As the Mayor of Newquay I’m really proud that our town will be a leader in creating a safe space strategy. The BID, with support from CLEAR, Councillor Sarah Thomson, and Inspector Guy Blackford, is creating a safe space strategy for the whole town. This involves both business and the town council with our library being one such safe space. Thank you to everyone for making this possible and ensuring our town has safe spaces.”

This initiative adds value to an already well-structured support system within the town through new allocated and recognised Safe Spaces provided by local business within the community. Funding has been provided by Devon & Cornwall Police and the Boardmasters Foundation.

Newquay BID’s ambition is for the town to become the first town in the UK to offer a whole town approach to providing Safe Spaces for people who are feeling vulnerable while out in the community.

Check out the news coverage here: Cornwall Hits Radio  and the Falmouth Packet