A new late night SOS facility is to be launched in Clacton Town Centre on Saturday, January 7th.

Located on the town square from 7pm to 3am every Saturday night, it will offer support, advice and emergency first aid for those disoriented, injured and at risk late at night.

The initiative, based on the highly successful Colchester SOS Bus, will make a real impact on the numbers of people ending up in hospital A&E, or in trouble with the Police.

The Tendring Community Safety Partnership has teamed up with Drug and Alcohol support experts Open Road to provide this service and has funding for a trial period.

Wayne Powell, the SOS Facility coordinator who will manage the service, said: "We bring three years of experience from operating the Colchester SOS Bus. We've assisted over 3,500 people since September 2008.

"Because of the Bus, numbers of town centre night time visitors ending up in hospital A&E, getting in trouble with the Police or becoming disoriented and at risk have all decreased markedly. We've built up a good working relationship with the local pubs, clubs, the Police and other volunteer groups.

"Working with the same groups in Tendring, we're optimistic that we can make a real success of the new Clacton service. All the partners are committed to make this work."

Tendring District Council Chairman Alan Goggin will be guest of honour next Saturday and will launch the Clacton SOS facility.

Lynda McWilliams, TDC's Cabinet Member for Customer and Central Services, believes the new facility will reduce the pressure on the Police, Ambulance Service and hospital A&E and help create a safer night time environment for residents and visitors.

"I fully support this excellent initiative and I have signed up to be a volunteer myself," she said.

"I am sure it will make a difference to the overall well-being of a number of people who find themselves in a vulnerable state during a night out enjoying themselves."

Leanne Thornton, TDC's Community Safety Manager, said the Tendring Community Safety Partnership had been trying to get the project off the ground for some months.

"We are delighted that we will be operating our new facility from January 7 and helping to improve the night time environment of Clacton Town Centre," she said.

The launch will also give the chance for members of the public to come along and see how the facility operates, ask questions and maybe even get involved as an SOS volunteer.

Wayne added: "We cannot operate the service without our team of volunteers who are on board from 7pm to 3am. Volunteers get full training and support. It can be hard work, but very fulfilling, and we need a team of enthusiastic people to get involved."

If you would like to find out more contact Wayne at Open Road on 01206 369782 / 07553 385600 or go along to the SOS facility on Saturday, January 7 after 6pm.

30/12/11