Welfare centre helps thousands enjoy safe night out in Wrexham town

A ‘safe space’ that offers support to people feeling vulnerable or unwell on a night out in town has helped more than 12,000 people this year.

Hafan y Dref welfare centre – located at the bottom of Town Hill near St Giles Car Park – offers a triage-service and immediate first aid if you’re injured or suffering from too much to drink.

Staffed by British Red Cross volunteers, the centre is funded by Wrexham County Borough Council, Nightsafe, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Welsh Ambulance Service. So far this year 56 ambulances have been cancelled thanks to the centre with more appropriate alternatives to 999 being found.

The centre opened in December 2015, and as of November this year have already helped over 12,000 people in 2018.

Stats released by Wrexham Council show that 79 per cent of people come into the centre themselves. Others are helped there by door staff (seven per cent), friends (four per cent), police officers (four per cent), street pastors (three per cent) and so on.

Door staff and CCTV operators can also radio for assistance at the scene of an incident.

Often, people visit the centre for some ‘time out’ and can have a coffee or a lie down, or recover from over-indulging. Most cases are alcohol-related. Although staff have given support and advice to people with mental health issues too.

The focus is on providing a ‘social return’, with people able to get support when they need it, and public health messages being passed on. 96 per cent of people who have been supported by the centre are able to go on to enjoy the rest of their night out.

Michelle McBurnie, of the British Red Cross, regularly works at Hafan y Dref providing assistance to those who need it.

“I remember one night the team was contacted by door staff to attend a male who was unconscious on the pavement opposite their premises,” explained Michelle.

“On arrival, his partner was on the phone to ambulance control requesting assistance.

“It was clear he wasn’t ill, just extremely intoxicated. Volunteers cancelled the ambulance and he was brought back to the welfare centre where his mother was called to come and collect him.

“Thinking about and limiting how much you’re drinking during your night out, could stop you from getting into some dangerous situations later on.”

The group of volunteers also work alongside Wrexham Council, Wrexham street pastors, local businesses, the police and health services to ensure people experiencing the nightlife in the town have a safe and enjoyable time out.

Wrexham Council and its partners are also promoting the #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign, encouraging young people to look after themselves by cutting back on how much they drink before they go out…as well as how much they drink once they get to the bars, pubs and clubs in Wrexham.

The Hafan y Dref centre opens 10.30pm-4.30am on Saturdays, and extra shifts are laid on at Christmas and Easter.

More information about the #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign can be found here.