Identity cards to make life safer for town’s vulnerable residents

Rotherham Council was set to hold a launch event for the Safe in Rotherham scheme this morning, with the Town Hall in Moorgate Street becoming the first building to sign up as a “safe place”.

As part of the Safe in Rotherham idea, people who have learning disabilities or other conditions which make them vulnerable will be issued with the card, which contains three emergency contact numbers.

If they find themselves lost or unwell, or feel unsafe or are being followed, harassed or threatened, they will be able to approach a building that is displaying the Safe in Rotherham (SiR) logo.

They can then show staff the card and that person will contact one of the numbers on the card and advise carers, family members or support workers what has happened and where the person is.

Council staff have also been instructed to offer support and reassurance to each vulnerable person until help arrives.

Rotherham Council’s learning disabilities partnership board has developed the initiative alongside officers from South Yorkshire Police, members of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

All four organisations are now asking shops, offices, cafes, restaurants and pubs to permanently display the SiR sign in their windows.

Councillor Pat Russell, Rotherham Council’s learning disabilities champion and the chairman of the learning disabilities partnership board, who will officially launch the scheme today, described SiR as a “huge step forward” for some of the most vulnerable members of the local community.

She said: “It is vital that vulnerable adults not only have the opportunity to feel as independent as possible but also as secure as possible.

“So this kind of scheme, which has been successfully implemented in neighbouring Doncaster, will be of huge benefit to this group of people.

“It means they can visit the town centre knowing that help is on hand if for whatever reason, they feel unsafe or threatened, ill or need help.

“We will be offering this scheme to all vulnerable adults and hope to sign up a significant number of organisations and businesses to support - with Rotherham Town Hall leading the way.”

Coun Russell explained that the scheme was developed following a ballot among vulnerable people who suffer with learning problems and other disabilities which make them vulnerable while out on their own.

They and their carers were asked what top three priorities the council should concentrate on from the Government’s Valuing People Now document.

The highest number of votes was cast for the heading “being safe” and this concern was the subject of various discussions and debates led by the Rotherham learning disabilities partnership board, which agreed to go ahead with the scheme after hearing about the success of similar projects elsewhere.

The logo was designed by the Oaks Literacy group, which won a competition held in day centres across the borough.

The authority is preparing an information folder for all organisations signing up to the scheme and the logo cards and posters will be produced by ADPRO, the Learning Disability print works.

The logos currently used in Doncaster will also be printed on the concertina-type card, allowing people from Rotherham to travel across South Yorkshire.

Organisations that have signed up to support the scheme include, Rotherham Lions, The Rotherham Safeguarding Board, Rotherham NHS, Rotherham Community Health Services, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Northern Rail.