Case Study Safe City: Julian Trust Night Shelter

CASE STUDY

Safe City

Colorful mural on a building wall, featuring geometric shapes in shades of blue, green, and purple, with two windows and a sign for the Julian Trust charity.

Safety for the vulnerable

How The Julian Trust Night Shelter combines video technology with compassion and operational security

The Julian Trust Night Shelter is a night shelter in Bristol that offers protection and accommodation for homeless individuals. Those who come here receive a warm meal, a bed, and a safe environment. But even in a place of care, security measures are essential – for guests, volunteers, and the surrounding neighborhood. The organization faced a clear challenge: How can a professional security solution be implemented with limited financial resources – in a way that is both effective and respectful of the environment? The answer came in the form of a tailored solution from Dallmeier, based in Regensburg, Germany.

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Mobile Access With SeMSy® Mobile Client

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Privacy by Design

Discreet

Safety With Picoline & Domera® Cameras

Our customer: Julian Trust

The Julian Trust is a volunteer-led charity in Bristol providing emergency accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness. Open four nights a week, the shelter offers a safe, warm place to stay, hot meals, essential supplies and a welcoming environment. Entirely run by volunteers, the charity aims to provide immediate safety while helping people take steps towards a better future.

Challenge

Professional security for a sensitive environment
Protection of guests, volunteers and neighbourhood
High requirements for privacy and discretion

“The video system helps us safeguard our visitors, our volunteers, and the neighbourhood — while maintaining a climate of trust.”
Matthew Webb,
Trustee, The Julian Trust Night Shelter

Security needs in a sensitive environment
A safe place for people in difficult circumstances: The Julian Trust Night Shelter is run entirely by volunteers and funded through donations. Those seeking help find not just material support, but also a sense of human connection. Yet even in an environment built on compassion, protective measures are needed to ensure the well-being of everyone involved.
For the shelter’s management, a video surveillance system was the logical step – not as a means of control, but as a way to create a secure environment. The solution came in the form of a close local partnership, tailored to the shelter’s specific needs both technically and organizationally. In close coordination with the regional installer Complete Security, Dallmeier developed a well-thought-out concept that provides security while maintaining respect for the people on-site.

“Our goal was to create a protected space without stigmatizing our guests. The video system helps us safeguard our visitors, our volunteers, and the neighborhood — while maintaining a climate of trust. That was important to us,” says Matthew Webb, trustee at The Julian Trust Night Shelter.

Planning with transparency
Using the Dallmeier planning tool PlanD, Dallmeier and Complete Security developed a fully transparent and technically sound solution that was easy to install – despite high ceilings and complex structural conditions. The flexible Mountera® mounting system played a key role in simplifying the process.

“We had full transparency at every stage, knew exactly what would be implemented and when, and were able to present the concept directly to our board. That built trust and ultimately led to the decision,” explains Matthew Webb.

The installed solution includes a DMS 2400, Picoline and Domera® cameras, as well as the SeMSy® Mobile Client. The mobile video management app enables staff to access the system quickly and easily – even during night shifts, directly via tablet.

“For us as the installer, it was important to deliver a solution that could be implemented reliably despite some structural challenges. Thanks to the PlanD planning process, installation went smoothly, and the system was up and running quickly,” says Lee Smith, Director Complete Security.

A spacious indoor area with green chairs and tables, along with beds lined against the walls, suggesting a multi-purpose facility.

The Julian Trust Night Shelter offers protection and accommodation for homeless individuals.

Security and privacy in balance
Key surveillance areas include the guest entrance, volunteer access, parking area, and – most sensitively – the sleeping area. An IR-enabled camera system with intelligent motion detection ensures the system only records when necessary. This approach ensures privacy is respected while still providing effective protection.

Matthew Webb summarizes: “The combination of professional planning, local support, and smart technology really convinced us. At a place like this, everything needs to work seamlessly – while also being implemented with care.”

Discreet and dependable integration
Today, the system is a quiet but reliable part of everyday life at the shelter. It helps prevent unwanted incidents, strengthens the overall sense of safety, and allows everyone involved to focus on what truly matters: care, trust, and treating society’s most vulnerable with respect.

“We want to help – and do it as safely as possible. The Dallmeier solution supports us in doing exactly that, every single day,” states Matthew Webb happily.