A new scheme aiming to help people feel safer in the town centre has been launched

Keep Safe aims to provide help and support to vulnerable people when they are out and about in Brentwood’s town centre.

The scheme, which is aimed at people with learning disabilities, mental ill-health and people over 60 is free to sign up for.

It was launched in the town last Friday.

Each new member will receive a welcome pack containing cards, key fobs, information leaflets and more.

These items can be filled in by vulnerable people with their essential contact numbers. These numbers then can be used in situations if they are feeling unwell or unsafe.

Seventeen venues have signed up to support the scheme and will display the Keep Safe sticker in their windows.

Any venue with the Keep Safe sticker will allow members the use of a telephone or opportunity to ask for someone to make a call on their behalf in an emergency.

All of the partners involved in the scheme were present at the launch event and were on hand to sign new members up and issue information packs.

Councillor John Newberry, vice chairman of Safer Brentwood, said: "Our business community have shown their commitment to our High street and our residents by supporting those who sign up to the scheme by displaying a Keep Safe sticker in their window.

"Keep Safe gives residents the reassurance that if something happens when they are out and they feel unsafe or unwell that there are venues that they can go to and where staff are guaranteed to help them."

Katherine Washbrook, Partnership Support Officer, CAVS Be Safer Essex, said: "Keep Safe is about giving vulnerable people in our community the confidence to go out and about in Essex town centres and to know there will always be someone to help them if they are in difficulty."