An app can give Newcastle revellers a one-stop shop for what they need to stay safe on a night out. Funded locally by Street Pastors and Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird, the ‘Your Night’ App gives revellers information about the city’s clubs and pubs, taxi firms, location details and emergency contact and help centres.
The city’s Street Pastors co-ordinator Sam Douthwaite has been part of the project, helping people who are lost or vulnerable in the city.
He said: “We wanted to provide a one-stop shop with all the local information so people can call taxis, find hotels and seek help if they need it. The ‘Your Night’ App covers a range of towns across the country and now includes Newcastle – providing all the details in one place so anyone visiting the city can access information quickly.”
Street Pastors as in other places have become a part of looking after the city’s night time crowds and through the Commissioner’s Safe Haven project have received extra training to help people who become vulnerable.
Vera Baird has helped the Street Pastors promote the App locally and has contributed to Street Pastor projects in North Tyneside and Sunderland, providing bikes.
She said: “The Street Pastors are volunteers from all walks of life who give up their time to look after vulnerable people in towns and cities.
“I was delighted to be able to help them promote this App – I think it’s great that people can have a directory at their fingertips in case they need a location, telephone number or map. It all adds up to keeping revellers safe on a night out.”
Chair of Safe Newcastle Linda Hobson, said: “I think this App is a great idea, and it underlines the vital role that Street Pastors fulfil in many of our towns and cities keeping people safe at night. It has lots of really useful information, and I’d recommend that people download it so they have it handy on a night out.”
Pictured, left to right, Sue Smith, Violence Against Women Project Officer at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner; Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird; Newcastle Street Pastors Coordinator Sam Douthwaite and Chair of Safe Newcastle Cllr Linda Hobson.
