Oldham Council’s Youth Service and Oldham Street Angels have launched a new initiative – Trusted People, aimed at helping women and girls feel safe and confident when using the tram network.
Has been launched by Oldham Council’s Youth service and Oldham Street Angels.
The Youth Service are covering the stops between Freehold and Oldham Mumps at times when they are busy with school pupils and college students, with the Street Angels covering the later hours up until March.
Half a million pounds was allocated from the Home Office to launch a series of schemes as part of the Greater Manchester-wide Safer Streets campaign, which aims to help helping women and girls feel safer when out and about in the city-region.
The launch of Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) Gender-Based Violence Strategy last month, which outlines how GMCA and its partners will tackle the many forms of gender-based violence through a whole-system approach over the next 10 years.
“Thousands of people use the tram every day, but it is unacceptable that a small number of women and girls cannot use public transport without feeling unsafe or being harassed.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said the Youth Team and the Street Angels already do a brilliant job.
“They provide a friendly face, which can be really welcoming during the dark winter nights.
“Over the coming weeks thousands of people will be coming into Oldham to shop and enjoy themselves so it’s important the council and our partners are helping them feel safer with our Trusted People scheme.”
Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Bev Hughes, said: “The Street Angels already provide a trusting presence in Oldham, so the Trusted People initiative is an extension of this, working with the youth team to provide reassurance and instil feelings of confidence and safety when using our public transport network”.
