A new volunteering scheme has launched for residents interested in helping people keep safe in Bournemouth Town Centre on a Friday and Saturday night.
The Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Community Safety Partnership, led by BCP Council and Dorset Police, is looking for volunteers who are able to dedicate some time to assisting people who may become vulnerable or need help while on a night out.
The Community Guardianship Volunteers will help anyone by providing water, foil blankets for warmth, mobile phone usage, assistance getting home, and general reassurance. They will patrol central Bournemouth between 8pm and midnight.
Dorset Police will be co-ordinating recruitment and vetting candidates while providing detailed training, vital contact information, and equipment. This police training will take place from January to March 2025, with the Community Guardians starting their volunteering duties in April.
This scheme will work in tandem with other BCP Community Safety projects such as the BCP Unity Promise, The Safe Places Scheme, and the Safe Bus. It will also sit alongside the work of the Bournemouth Town Pastors, a dedicated team of volunteers who have been providing help to anyone in need of it on a Saturday night since September 2017.
Patrols will take place around Lansdowne, Horseshoe Common, and Bournemouth Square.
Cllr Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “If you’re interested in volunteering and working alongside the police, becoming a Community Guardianship Volunteer on a Friday or Saturday night in Bournemouth is an ideal opportunity.”
“Working with our partners, we want to enable people to contribute to the local community, providing reassurance and comfort to individuals who may find themselves in distress or in need of help.”
“We really appreciate anyone who gives up some of their valuable free time to volunteer and their efforts will be greatly welcomed.”
The work of these Community Guardian volunteers will dovetail with the efforts of other members of the Community Safety Partnership, local businesses, and the wider voluntary sector.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick commented: “I encourage people to sign up to become a Community Guardian as it will not only help strengthen the BCP community but also means there are more opportunities for people to seek help, should they need it.”
“The funding for the scheme, which was awarded following a joint bid between my office and the BCP Community Safety Partnership, will enable volunteers to be comprehensively trained and thereafter to provide safety advice and assistance to those who may need it within the Bournemouth Town Centre and on routes home.”
“Keeping people safe is a shared priority and this initiative is yet another example of how partners are working together to ensure people not only stay safe but feel safe when they are out and about enjoying what Bournemouth has to offer.”