Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) across Wales continue to face growing and complex challenges. From supporting vulnerable people in public spaces, to improving perceptions of safety, enhancing emergency responses, and ensuring communities remain connected and informed.
Pulse Hubs offer a practical way to support these objectives through a network of smart, community‑focused street hubs designed to improve public safety, connectivity and resilience, at no upfront cost to local authorities. Pulse Hubs are now looking to work with communities across Wales who are interested in rolling out units in key locations.
What are Pulse Hubs?
Pulse Hubs are smart street furniture that combine life‑saving equipment, emergency communication, digital connectivity and public information in one accessible on‑street location. Developed by a UK‑based, purpose‑driven SME, Pulse Hubs were first installed in Belfast and locations are now being scouted for a wider UK roll-out.
Each hub is designed to support people in public spaces, particularly those who may be vulnerable, isolated or in need of urgent assistance, while also providing valuable tools for councils, CSPs and emergency services.
Pulse Hubs are designed around three core principles.
1. Improving public safety and emergency response
Each Pulse Hub includes publicly accessible life‑saving equipment, helping to increase community resilience and rapid response in emergencies. Features include an integrated public access defibrillator, a bleed control kit, nasal naloxone, a dedicated emergency call button linked to emergency service protocols, specific 999 call functionality, and built‑in CCTV monitoring for evidentiary purposes. This increases the availability of critical equipment in high‑footfall areas and allows for faster intervention when incidents occur.
2. Supporting vulnerable people in public spaces
Pulse Hubs are designed to help people feel safer, more connected and better informed while out in their community. Features include free phone calls via a built‑in speaker and microphone, free public Wi‑Fi, free mobile device charging including wireless charging, and access to local information, helplines and services. Hubs can also display public messaging for charities, outreach services and local initiatives.
3. Enhancing local intelligence and prevention
Pulse Hubs also act as a smart technology platform, providing access to useful, non‑intrusive data to support prevention and place‑based decision‑making. Capabilities include air quality monitoring, advanced footfall counting, open‑source data collection and sharing, Internet of Things connectivity, and the ability to override screen content to display emergency or policing messages when required.
No upfront cost
Pulse Hubs are funded through digital advertising. This means there are no upfront installation costs and no capital outlay. A proportion of screen space is reserved for free community, council and charity messaging. This model enables local partners to benefit from the safety, connectivity and data features of the hubs without adding pressure to already stretched budgets.
Pulse Hubs are designed to support a wide range of partners involved in community safety, including Community Safety Partnerships, local authorities and town centre management, police and emergency services, Business Improvement Districts, charities and outreach organisations, and local communities and visitors.
Pulse Hubs are keen to work collaboratively with partners in Wales to identify suitable locations, align with local safety priorities, and engage communities throughout the planning and installation process.
Find Out More
If you are interested in exploring how Pulse Hubs could support your work further download their information pack below, visit pulsehub.uk or contact the Network team for a direct introduction.
