A celebration of partnership: Worcester Safe Space wins national award

Worcester BID is thrilled to announce that its Worcester Safe Space initiative has won the national award for ‘Best Social and Community Contribution Scheme’ at the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM) Awards, held last night in Bradford.
The award recognises the strength of Worcester’s citywide partnership and celebrates the Worcester Safe Space initiative as a true showstopper in innovative city safety, playing a key role in supporting the city’s Purple Flag accreditation.
This achievement would not have been possible without the ongoing collaboration and support of our valued partners, including West Mercia PCC John Campion, West Mercia Police, Worcester Street Pastors, Worcester City Council, Public Health, Lightbox, University of Worcester and Maggs.

“This win is a celebration of true partnership. Safe Space is only possible because of the unwavering support and collaboration from our city partners. Together, we’ve transformed how care and safety is delivered in Worcester’s nighttime and daytime economy.” – Sam McCarthy, CEO of Worcester BID.

Launched in December 2023, Worcester Safe Space offers a supportive, non-judgmental environment for individuals during nights out and, more recently, daytime hours. In its first year, Worcester Safe Space has supported 2,629 medical incidents, all on just 104 operational nights (Friday and Saturday evenings only). This equates to an average of 25 people helped per night, significantly easing pressure on emergency services and providing fast, compassionate care exactly where and when it’s needed most.
Richard Nash from RTN Medical said, “I was overjoyed when Worcester BID approached me to help deliver the Safe Space service. Being able to provide immediate care, de-escalate risk, and support vulnerable individuals in a safe and non-judgmental environment makes a real difference. Winning this national award is a fantastic recognition of the hard work that’s gone into building this service, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of such a committed partnership working to improve safety across Worcester.”
As the initiative garners national attention, Worcester BID is determined to ensure its future. With initial funding ending in December 2025, a fundraising campaign is now underway to sustain and grow the Safe Space beyond the end of this year.
The BID is calling on the Worcester community, including residents, businesses, and supporters to help secure the future of Safe Space through donations, fundraising events, and local sponsorship.