People who are exempt from the wearing of face coverings in indoor settings are guaranteed a warm welcome at shops and cafes in Worcester which have signed up to the national Safe Place scheme.
The Safe Place initiative gives the elderly and people with a disability, illness or learning difficulty, or who just feel in danger, a range of safe places where they can go to for help if they feel they are being bullied, abused or harassed while out and about.
All Safe Place venues display the Safe Place logo in a window or other prominent place.Staff there will be ready to help and assist anyone who goes to them for help, creating a temporary safe haven for them, whatever the circumstance.
20 venues in Worcester have signed up to the scheme and are online at www.ourway.org.uk/our-way-projects/safe-place-scheme/
The latest Worcester store to sign up is the Revital Health Shop in The Shambles.
Store Manager Alex Browning said: "We are very happy to support vulnerable people as they shop in Worcester.Some people are unable to wear face masks for a variety of reasons – it's really important that they still feel able to get out and about and are given a warm welcome when they do."
Safe Place cards can also be carried by individuals, with useful contact details for family members or carers, which can be presented to staff inside a Safe Place.
'Safe Places' in Worcestershire was set up by Worcester City Council's Community Safety team, North Worcestershire Community safety Partnership West Mercia Police & Our Way Self Advocacy.
