Creating Safe Spaces For Community To Gather

Communities benefit enormously from having shared spaces where people who live there can feel safe and welcome. This is creating safe spaces. These places not only allow for community members to gather for celebrations and education, but they can also provide space for outside organizations and businesses to utilize, creating business for the community. To ensure your space is a quality venue that both those inside and outside of the community will want to use, follow these tips from Insurance Advisors of St. Louis.

Prioritize Safety Through Lighting And Security Cameras

Because you want your community center to be utilized by many organizations and individuals, prioritizing safety must come first. You want people to feel as though they are safe within the walls and outside of the building, and a combination of excellent lighting and high-quality security cameras can help achieve this.

Particularly for members of the community who are more vulnerable, knowing any paths they walk on, staircases they must go down and parking lots they use is vital to them feeling safe. This extends to the parents and other loved ones of these individuals, as well. So always take stock of areas that need to be well-lit, and invest in quality lighting from reputable brands that specialize in building lighting and security.

Drivers dropping off and picking up people also need the areas they will be driving and parking in to be brightly illuminated to help avoid accidents. Quality lighting and security cameras don’t only help minimize accidents, though. They also help to deter criminal activity, providing an extra layer of protection for anyone utilizing the space.

Prepare For Different Uses

Uses for community buildings are numerous, and different organizations and individuals may require special accommodations, but there are some general needs you can prepare for. If possible, having different rooms and areas available for the different types of uses is best. That way, you can customize each space to facilitate its most likely demands.

A space that can play host to birthday parties, baby showers, and wedding parties will need an area that can be the focus where the celebrated individual or people can open presents. Having tables of varying sizes and shapes available to use can make it easier to adjust to the needs of the people using the room.

Many companies and organizations like to use spaces like these to facilitate opportunities for networking. This can be through a mixer or conference intended to bring like-minded individuals together. While networking, keeping relaxed is key, as is not allowing yourself to corner or be cornered by other attendees, so when designing these spaces, you may want to take steps to eliminate corners or other areas where a participant might become trapped or whose attention might be monopolized by another.

Regardless of which rooms you choose to prioritize in your shared space, ensure that they are designed to allow those with disabilities to access them easily. This can mean incorporating ramp access and accounting for hearing and visibility issues. The National Disability Authority recommends auditing your building every three years to ensure accessibility remains functional and up-to-date.

Cultivating a space that works for you and your community is an important process that can take some investment. It will more than pay off, though, when people who visit feel safe and secure under the lights and within the walls of your space and want to come back again and again.

We hope these tips about creating safe spaces for your community will help you do just that in your area.