10 Downing Street | Cheltenham Guardians

Cheltenham Guardians Honoured at 10 Downing Street

In December 2023, the Cheltenham Guardians Safeguarding Team (CGST) was celebrated at 10 Downing Street during the Local Community Safety Champions’ Reception, hosted by Security Minister Tom Tugendhat on behalf of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Tara, our Operations Director, represented CGST at this prestigious event, invited by Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk to recognise our award-winning work in ensuring the safety, security and well-being of women and girls in Cheltenham's night-time economy. This honour highlights CGST's vital role as the UK's longest-standing specialist female safeguarding service.

A National Recognition of Our Mission

Tara's visit to 10 Downing Street provided a platform to share CGST's pioneering India Protocol, inspired by the tragic loss of India Chipchase and supported by the Chipchase family. "It was an honour to visit No.10 to represent Cheltenham Guardians and spread the word further of what we do and more importantly why we do it," Tara said. "I spoke about the driving force behind what we do, India herself, and the support from the Chipchase family we have had over the years." The India Protocol enables our female, DBS-checked volunteers to patrol Cheltenham every Saturday night and Sunday morning from 10pm to 4am, offering proactive support - such as safe transport, emotional care, incident intervention or coordination with Gloucestershire Constabulary and other strategic partners.

The reception, attended by community safety leaders, underscored CGST's contribution to preventing harm, promoting community safety, and advancing well-being. Since 2015, our team has safeguarded thousands of women, saving over £1.8 million and thousands of operational hours for emergency services, the NHS, and the criminal justice system, at no cost to police or local authorities. Since 2015 we have supported thousands of women through our patrols and Nightcare Hub at 1 Royal Crescent, Cheltenham, GL50 3DA, a safe haven for rest and assistance.

Gratitude from Cheltenham's MP

Alex Chalk, who nominated Tara for the event, praised CGST's dedication: "I was delighted to nominate Tara to attend the local community safety champions at 10 Downing Street as a token of our town's gratitude for the work her and her colleagues do to keep women and girls in Cheltenham safe. Having joined the Cheltenham Guardians on shift in the past, I have seen with my own eyes how they go above and beyond to serve others. Tara and her colleagues are a credit to our town." This endorsement reflects CGST’s deep community ties and partnerships with strategic stakeholders in the town.

Looking Forward

Tara affirmed CGST's commitment: "We will continue doing what we do best - safeguarding lone females in the night-time economy in Cheltenham and further afield with our sister projects." This national recognition inspires us to expand our impact as we pursue charitable status, advocating for safer communities and influencing policies on women's safety. Our robust governance, including policies on safeguarding, whistleblowing, and conflict of interest, ensures we operate with transparency and accountability, as detailed on our Transparency page.

Join Our Mission

Help us make Cheltenham's night-time economy safer:

Volunteer: Join our female-led team to protect women and girls.
Donate: Support the India Protocol and Nightcare Hub.
Learn More: Explore our mission, impact, and policies.

For enquiries, contact us at contact@cheltenhamguardians.org or 01242 350 330. For safeguarding concerns, reach our Designated Safeguarding Lead at safeguarding@cheltenhamguardians.org. For complaints, contact our Complaints Officer at complaints@cheltenhamguardians.org.

Thank you for supporting CGST's vision of a safer Cheltenham, one safe journey home at a time.