Jessica White appointed to the expert panel

LGBT Foundation’s Community Safety Lead, Jessica White, has been appointed to the expert panel unveiled by Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester’s first ever Night-Time Economy Adviser.

The 18-strong panel, which also includes figures from the likes of Greater Manchester Police, Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council, will support Sacha’s bid to improve the city’s nightlife.

Jessica and her counterparts will meet to discuss plans to make the city-region a safer and even more attractive destination for a night out. The announcement follows Sacha’s appointment in July, and comes just days after LGBT Foundation CEO, Paul Martin OBE, took a prominent role on an expert panel supporting Greater Manchester’s first ever LGBT adviser, Carl Austin-Beehan.

Jessica said: “This is an opportunity for the people who deliver vital work in the area to come together and make Manchester a safer and more enjoyable night out for everyone. We have spent more than seven years delivering transformative services that have an impact on people across the city, so we are well-placed to offer ideas and share best practice.”

LGBT Foundation’s Village Angels are trained volunteers who, since 2011, have been providing support and assistance to people in need in the Gay Village. They patrol the Village every Friday and Saturday night between 9pm and 3am in their iconic hot pink uniforms, delivering a diverse range of vital services. 

From offering directions and information to responding to serious incidents such as mental health crises, helping people get home and providing assistance in reporting crimes, the Angels are on hand to help.

The Village Haven, a partnership project between LGBT Foundation, Serenity Security and Barnabus, is a night-time safe haven open from 11pm to 5am every Friday and Saturday in the Village. It is a safe space where people unable to keep themselves safe can be supported to get home unharmed, including those who are vulnerable as a result of alcohol or drug consumption.

Jessica added: “As part of his walk around the city centre with Greater Manchester Police, Sacha came to the Village Haven and was extremely positive about the work we do there. Afterwards he took to social media describing the work as ‘incredible’ and called it a ‘stand-out’ feature of his tour of Manchester.

“We are very excited about the launch of the panel and the opportunities it presents in bringing together those working across Greater Manchester’s night-time economy.

“I am very aware of the challenges that exist in looking after the night-time economy, particularly in protecting the most vulnerable individuals. We hope to be able to work with key stakeholders in developing unified and impactful services, and delivering a second-to-none night out.”

Published: 13-Sep-2018: (5039)