The ‘Festive Safe Hut’ is a voluntary initiative with St John to provide late night revellers with practical assistance to the lead up to Christmas and the New Year. Located at Xscape near the taxi pod every Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout Christmas starting 2nd December, the hut will be attended by volunteers.
Last year, the initiative helped save the life of a City reveller suffering from a coronary. In total, over 200 people visited the additional service for all manner of queries and incidents. Minor issues, supporting and advising intoxicated people, were handled by the team and significantly relieved pressure on local emergency services.
A total of 30 casualties were treated, six of those were sent to hospital and 24 were treated on site, subsequently resulting in the avoidance of 24 ambulance call outs, an estimated saving of £1,800, as well as a saving on A&E services totalling approximately £2,160.
The ‘Pee Pod’ was introduced during the World Cup of this year and received a positive response from revellers looking for a place to relieve themselves in the later hours of the evening. During July this year, 288 people used the ‘Pee Pod’. The ‘Pee Pod’ will be located by the Xscape building – near Airkix.
Kay Greenhalgh spokesperson for the After8 Group and City Centre Manager; “Milton Keynes City Centre is already one of the safest places to go for a night out in the UK and we do all we can to ensure this perception remains the same. Both of these initiatives have been trialled with great success and we are extremely happy to bring them back during the busy festive period.”
The main sponsors involved are; SaferMK of Milton Keynes Council, Theatre District; Xscape; MKCCM and St John Ambulance. Several local businesses have also shown their support; Wetherspoon, , Pasante Medical Care and Williams Medical Services.
After8 volunteers will also be asking revellers what they think of the transport links into and within the City Centre – those that help with this research will be entered into a prize draw. For more information see: www.after8cmk.co.uk
