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Major organisation in Wakefield have joined forces to create Wakefield’s first ever City Hub.
The unit near Costa and The Entertainer at Trinity Walk has opened its doors thanks to a new partnership between the shopping centre, West Yorkshire Police, Wakefield BID, Community Foundation Wakefield District and Wakefield Council.
The Hub is open to city centre workers, visitors and local residents to pop in get advice on a range of subjects including:
City Hub will be staffed by teams on rotation from all the different partners involved with a police officer there for around three hours a day, seven days a week (subject to emergencies callouts).
Now open, City Hub will trial the service for six months when it will then be reviewed.
Lynette Howgate, Trinity Walk Centre Manager, said: “This is just the start of what can be achieved when we all work together and I can’t thank everyone enough for getting on board. By sharing the City Hub, it means different agencies all have a fast point of contact with each other. That means we can potentially help people in real time. It’s a visible presence in the city made up of people who really care about Wakefield.”
Insp. Paul Fraser, of West Yorkshire Police, added: “The Hub is a one-stop shop for the public to seek advice, guidance and help with any issues that may impact on theirs or their community’s safety. This will include crime, public order and nuisance and crime prevention. With multiple subject matter experts on hand, problems and issues will be discussed and long-term solutions quickly sought.”
Tony Hodges, Chair of Wakefield BID, said: “We are here to support businesses in Wakefield and City Hub gives them another point of contact to report a problem, get advice or share an idea that together we can all help with. By supporting this project, we are helping provide an extra service for our levy payers to get the support they need to thrive.”
Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council, added: “This is a chance for our different services to link up in a quicker and easier way with partners to help support people through action or advice. We think this will be especially powerful when working with young people and the business community.”
Murray Edwards, Executive Director of Community Foundation Wakefield District, said: “Our day-to-day work means we already have well established connections across Wakefield, so we will be looking to utilise these to help people via the City Hub. We’re proud to be part of this as we exist to help others.”
MP Simon Lightwood was also on hand to support the project as the city’s MP. He said: “I know that there are real concerns from shoppers and businesses about the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in our city centre. This hub will be a helpful place to go to for support, reassuring shoppers and deterring would-be criminals.”
“It’s a testament to local partnership working that this hub has been created. It goes to show that when we get round the table, support each other and then back that with action, we can create something that could make a real difference.”
As part of Trinity Walk’s breast-feeding friendly status, parents are also welcome to feed their children in there too as well as anywhere in the centre.
City Hub will be open daily from at least 10.30am to 1pm seven day a week, with bosses planning to extend those hours.
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