Derwent Rural Counselling Becomes A Registered Derbyshire Safe Place

12th December 2025

The accreditation comes through the Safe Places National Network, a UK-wide scheme that helps people who may feel anxious, lost, or at risk while out in public. Venues that sign up commit to offering a calm, supportive environment where individuals can seek help, make a phone call, or wait safely for assistance.

A Safe Place is a registered venue (like shops, cafés or public spaces) that has agreed to offer help or support to someone who is feeling anxious, scared, lost, or at risk while out and about in the community. The scheme is especially useful for vulnerable groups, such as people with learning difficulties, autism, or communication challenges, but is available for anyone who may feel unsafe or need assistance while out and about.

As a Safe Place, staff at DRCS Chesterfield located near the central bus station at Serenity House, New Beetwell Street, have received guidance on how to support visitors experiencing distress or confusion, including those with learning disabilities, dementia, mental-health needs, or communication difficulties. The venue will display the official Safe Places sticker at its entrance, signalling to passers-by that trained help is available inside.

DRCS Chesterfield Safe Place status comes into effect immediately, and staff encourage anyone who feels unsure or unsafe while out in the community to drop in.

Here are clear bullet-point benefits of having a location designated as a Safe Place:

• Provides immediate help if someone feels scared, lost, confused, or overwhelmed.
• Offers a calm, supportive environment where a person can take a moment to feel safe.
• Gives a known, trusted place to go if something goes wrong while out in the community.
• Helps with communication, as staff are prepared to assist people who may struggle to explain what's wrong.
• Allows someone to contact a family member, carer, or support worker if needed.
• Reduces anxiety about going out alone, promoting greater independence and confidence.
• Supports vulnerable groups, such as people with learning disabilities, autism, dementia, or health conditions.
• Clearly marked signs and logos make the safe place easy to recognise in an emergency.
• Ensures trained staff are available who understand how to offer help in a respectful and reassuring way.
• Encourages safer, more inclusive communities where people know support is close by.

If it would help to talk, there is a warm welcome at DRCS and a quick response time to requests for therapy, plus help to find the right kind of therapy for you. Browse our website at https://drcs.org.uk/ for information about our therapy services, it is just a click away.

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