Optalis Head Office becomes a Safer Place

The Safer Places Scheme was set up in 2010 by Wokingham Borough Council, in partnership with local self-advocacy group CLASP, and Thames Valley Police. Its purpose is to help people who may feel vulnerable or scared whilst out and about in the Wokingham Borough.

Green 'Safer Places' stickers have been displayed in over 40 shop and local business windows to let the public know it's a designated 'Safer Place' where people can go if they need to have a breather, ask for help, or even reach a phone so they can call someone they know to pick them up.

This week, Optalis' Head Office at Trinity Court, Molly Millars Lane, became the latest site to sign up to the scheme and Safer Places Champions Mark Savage and Philip Pearce visited to officially mark the premises with a Safer Places sticker on the entrance doors. They were accompanied by Johan Baker, Adult Safeguarding Prevention Advisor (Wokingham Borough Council) who gave a short presentation to Optalis staff beforehand.

Johan said: "The Safer Places Scheme is about giving vulnerable residents in the borough confidence, when out and about, that there are places where they can go to for help if they need it. Being located in a busy part of the Wokingham town area, Optalis' head office is ideally positioned to do this. We are really pleased that Optalis have joined our scheme.”

Andrew Pickup, Optalis' Managing Director, said: "I’m delighted that our Head Office has become the latest site to sign up to the scheme. A vulnerable person could be anyone - they don’t have to have a disability or be an older person - and so it’s important that we all contribute to providing access to help when it’s needed.

"At Optalis it’s important to us that we play our part in the community, and we’re proud to be associated with schemes such as this.”

For more information about the Safer Places Scheme, please contact Johan on (0118) 974 6976 or email: johan.baker@wokingham.gov.uk