Herefordshire Mencap's Safe Places, the shops and venues where anyone who feels frightened can ask for help, are now on the free imabi Travel Guardian map.

The Safe Places run by Herefordshire Mencap, shops, cafes and public buildings where anyone who feels vulnerable, frightened or at risk can walk in and ask for help, now show up on the map inside the free imabi Travel Guardian phone app.

The scheme is coordinated across the county by Herefordshire Mencap, the charity that works with local people with learning disabilities and their families. imabi Community CIC, which makes the app, has added the Herefordshire locations to its interactive map so that someone out in Hereford, Leominster or Ross can open their phone and see the nearest one.

What a Safe Place is

A Safe Place is a business, shop or community or public venue that has signed up to help someone who feels vulnerable, upset or threatened. Herefordshire Mencap’s page says it has produced a “what to do” poster that tells each Safe Place how to respond when someone asks.

The Safe Places National Network listing for Herefordshire shows 53 locations when we checked it on 10 November 2026. In Hereford they include Hereford Cathedral, Hereford Town Hall, the council’s customer services centre, Old Market, Maylord Orchards, The Courtyard, the Tesco superstore on Bewell Street, St Johns Methodist Church, The Fred Bulmer Centre, The Beefy Boys and The Dukes Head.

Elsewhere in the county the list includes Ledbury Library, Ledbury Town Council offices, Ledbury Methodist Church and Boots in Ledbury; the Co-op Food store, ECHO, The Buttercup and Westfield School in Leominster; Ross-on-Wye Library, Enviroability and the Ross-on-Wye Horizon Centre; the Halo Bromyard Centre and Hope Centre Bromyard; the Border Bean Cafe in Kington; and the Church of St Leonard and Yarpole Community Shop at Yarpole.

Phone screenshot of the imabi Travel Guardian map of Hereford city centre with Safe Place markers, and a panel open for Tesco Superstore, Bewell Street, Hereford HR4 0BW, labelled part of the Safe Place National Scheme
Tapping a marker opens the venue's details, here the Tesco superstore on Bewell Street. Image: supplied by imabi

What the two organisations say

Rose Hunt of Herefordshire Mencap, who runs the scheme, said:

“Safe Places can make a real difference to people who may feel vulnerable or need some extra reassurance while they are out in their community. We are delighted that the locations can now also be found through imabi Travel Guardian, helping more people know where they can turn for support.

“We would also love to welcome more Herefordshire businesses and organisations into the scheme. By becoming a Safe Place, they can play a practical part in helping people feel safer, more confident and included within their local community.”

Mark Balaam, founder and chief executive of imabi, said:

“The work Herefordshire Mencap does to support people with learning disabilities and help them feel safer, more confident and connected within their communities is incredibly important. Their commitment is reflected in the Safe Places scheme they coordinate across Herefordshire, and we are delighted to play a small part in supporting it.

“By making these trusted locations available through imabi Travel Guardian, we hope to build on their excellent work and make it even easier for people to find help and reassurance when they need it.”

What else the app does

imabi Travel Guardian grew out of the company’s Railway Guardian app for train passengers. According to imabi’s own page, it now has buttons to share a journey or an arrival with chosen contacts, safety guides, links to support charities and their helplines, and a reporting tool run in partnership with Crimestoppers so people can report crime and unacceptable behaviour anonymously.

Two phone screens from the imabi Travel Guardian app: the home dashboard with Support, Location, Reports, Guides, Noticeboard and Your Voice buttons, and a Guides screen with travel and family safety articles
The Travel Guardian home screen and its safety guides. Image: supplied by imabi

What it means for you

  • To find a Safe Place: download imabi Travel Guardian free from the Apple App Store or Google Play and open the Location tab. The same Herefordshire locations are also on the National Safe Places app and the Safe Places National Network website.
  • If you need help while out: go into any venue showing the Safe Place sign and tell staff you need help. In an emergency, call 999.
  • If you run a shop, cafe or venue and want to join: Herefordshire Mencap wants more businesses and organisations in the scheme. Contact Rose Hunt at rose@herefordshiremencap.com or on 07969 524476.