Get Chatty with Hattie and help reduce violence against women and girls.

North East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and Stagecoach are working together to make travel around our area safer.

Hattie, the big pink community bus, will be parked on Riverhead Square from 11am-2pm on Thursday 11^th December.

Officers from the CSP and Stagecoach will be available on the day to chat through how to make travel safer as well as giving out personal safety equipment and advice.

The two organisations have been working together to make travel safer, improving the journey for women and girls whilst they making their way around the borough.

However, it isn’t just on the buses where the Council are making improvements in reducing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Visitors to Grimsby town centre can ask a VAWG Ambassador to walk them to a bus stop or other areas around the town centre. The Ambassadors can be spotted by their sapphire blue high vis vests and are usually stationed by the Riverhead Square.

Additionally, all bus stops around North East Lincolnshire are now registered as safe spaces. This means that if someone were to find themselves feeling vulnerable or in a difficult situation, they could hop onto a bus at any stop and ask the driver for assistance.

Stagecoach have also introduced “Ask for Angel Street”. If a passenger is made to feel uncomfortable by somebody else while riding the bus, they could ask the driver for “Angel Street” and they will discreetly help them.

The CSP and Stagecoach have also partnered with the “Strut Safe” phoneline to make the journey safer. If walking alone, the Strut Safe volunteers can be a friendly voice over the phone to keep you company until you get to where you’re going. Call 0333 335 0026 on Fridays and Saturdays 19:00-03:00 and Sundays 19:00-01:00.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities said: “All these measures will make travel safer for everyone in our community, not just women and girls.

“It’s important to keep yourself safe, but if you do see something happening, help in any way you can. Whether that’s intervening or simply documenting the incident to give to someone afterwards. Sometimes a friendly “Are you okay?” can make all the difference.”

Matt Cranwell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Midlands, added: “As a local bus operator, our team come from our local communities, so it means a lot to us to support those communities, and there can be few more important ways of doing so than be helping to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.

“The message is clear: Stagecoach buses are safe-spaces. If you find yourself in fear of violence or abuse, then please approach one of our Drivers, who will be on hand to support you.”

For more information on how to be safe when travelling around North East Lincolnshire visit https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east-midlands/askforangelstreet