BCP COUNCIL and Dorset Police are asking for volunteers to help keep Bournemouth town centre safe on a Friday and Saturday night. 

The new volunteering scheme led by the two authorities 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. 

BCP Community Safety Partnership's 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 around Lansdowne, Horseshoe Common and the Square. 

Dorset Police will be co-ordinating recruitment and vetting candidates while providing training, vital contact information and equipment. 

This police training will take place between January to March, with successful recruits starting their duties in April. 

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. 

Kieron WilsonKieron Wilson (Image: Richard Crease)

Kieron Wilson, cabinet member for regulatory services, said the scheme is an “ideal opportunity” for those who enjoy volunteering or want to work alongside the police. 

“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,” he said. 

“We really appreciate anyone who gives up some of their valuable free time to volunteer and their efforts will be greatly welcomed.” 

David SidwickDavid Sidwick

Dorset’s police and crime commissioner David Sidwick added: “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.”