Sheffield 'safe square' opens for festive revellers

The Safe Square will be open on December weekends until New Year's Day at 05:00

A new "safe square" in Sheffield has launched to help Christmas party-goers stay safe on a night out.

The scheme is about to enter its fourth weekend and organisers say it has already prevented 40 people from going to A&E.

People can charge their phones, receive First Aid or get help booking a taxi from 22:00 GMT until 05:00 every weekend in December.

A spokesperson said: "If things go south there's an area you can come to."

The space is a pilot scheme and organisers hope for it to become a permanent fixture in the city centre in order to help "free up ambulance crews that are in short supply".

The Safe Square is also a meet up point and a place to report anything distressing.

Simon Tomlinson, co-founder of Safe Square told the BBC: "There has always been an appetite for a flash response medical service in Sheffield that's available for venues, especially across West Street and Carver Street."

Safe Square uses two private ambulance firms as well security company, IMP Group.

Kayleigh Waine, co-founder and manager of Bamboo Door in Leopold Square, said that she is "really happy" that the service is there and that for every £1 spent on it, it saves £9.31 in A&E.

Co-founder Simon Tomlinson said there had long been an 'appetite' for the service

She added: "Every person they stop from going to A&E saves the NHS £1,000 in ambulance, waiting room staff and triage costs."

The figures are from a similar scheme in another part of the country, the BBC understands.

Safe Square consists of a number of gazebos dotted throughout the busy square and staff are also available for a "quick chat" if needed.

It launched on 1 December and will run until 05:00 on 31 December.

The scheme is funded by a grant from the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit and the aim is for Safe Square to be full time with additional funding from the hospitality industry.

A Safe Square spokesperson said on social media: "Obviously in a dream world, no-one would have to use the service, but in the real world there's clearly a real need for a permanent Safe Square based on what we've seen over the past three weeks.

"As we go into the final weekend before Christmas, be sure to know and let any friends and family know that the Safe Square is available."