BRENTWOOD Council has launched a new scheme to protect vulnerable residents.

The Keep Safe scheme aims to provide assistance to those who may be in trouble or distressed when they are out, need a bit of help if they have lost their purse or bus ticket or don’t know where they are.  

Venues in Brentwood are signing up to be ‘Safe Havens’ where people can go to for some help and will be displaying the Keep Safe sticker in their windows to show they are part of the scheme.

At the venue staff will be able to assist anyone who goes to them for help by giving them access to a telephone, or by making a call on their behalf if necessary.

A launch event will take place on Friday, October 10 outside the Baytree Centre, where partners involved in the scheme will be on hand and information packs will be available.

John Newberry, vice-chairman of the Brentwood Community Safety Partnership, said: "I support this scheme because safeguarding and protecting vulnerable people is vital and is a priority for the Community Safety Partnership and Brentwood Borough Council. The Keep Safe scheme gives reassurance to people that there is somewhere safe to go if they need help.

"It will give those who are vulnerable an opportunity to be more confident and have more independence."

The scheme first started in Braintree and is now being rolled out across Essex.