Southport BID feature by Andrew Brown
Over 60 people involved in the night-time economy in Southport have been trained in the ground-breaking ‘Ask For Angela’ scheme.
Multiple Southport town centre venues have pledged their support, including bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels.
The joint initiative has been carried out ahead of the busy Christmas and new year period thanks to Southport Pubwatch, Southport BID and Merseyside Police.
Training sessions in November 2024 focused on vulnerability, bystander intervention, and Ask For Angela implementation.
Topics covered included spiking prevention, mental health awareness, sexual harassment, and how to spot situations when customers are at risk.
Southport’s Ask for Angela scheme aims to ensure that anyone who is feeling vulnerable or unsafe is able to get the support they need.
This could be on a night out, on a date, meeting friends, or in other situations.
A recent YouGov survey on feelings of safety in the night-time economy found that 49% of people and 63% of women would be more likely to visit a venue that had measures in place to improve women’s safety.
The scheme works by training staff in the night-time economy in vulnerability management and what to do when someone ‘Asks for Angela’.
The trained member of staff will understand that the person asking is in need of support and will be able to respond in an appropriate, discreet way.
They might call security, lead the person to a safe space, or help them leave the premises unnoticed.
Posters containing QR codes have been put up in local venues letting customers know the scheme is in operation and how to ask for help.
A new bespoke Ask for Angela page on the Southport BID website has been created which contains more information.
A further training session will take place in early 2025 for any Southport town centre businesses who are keen to join the scheme.
Southport BID Head of Operations Luke Randles said: “We have had an excellent response to our offer of training in the Ask For Angela scheme from managers, owners and employees within the night-time economy in Southport.
“Working together with Southport Pubwatch members, we are always looking for ways in which we can make Southport a safer and more vibrant place during the night-time hours.
“The training sessions proved to be eye-opening. Staff from attending businesses are now in a stronger position to offer to help anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out.
“I would like to thank Merseyside Police, who have supported the scheme through funding from the recent Hotspot Response Fund. The Police continue to work closely with us and Southport Pubwatch members on joint initiatives.”
The venues involved in the Ask For Angela scheme in Southport town centre so far are:
Kokomo
The Masons Arms
Tap and Bottles
The Fool
Sinclair’s Bar
The Waterfront Hotel
The Southport Coaster
The Avenue
ChopHouse Rock Bar
The Auld Dubliner
The Carlton
Crave Pizza
The Pavilion, Cafe, Bar, and Bistro
Le Grog
Sacre Bleu
The Office Bar and Restaurant
The Bold Hotel
Punch Tarmey’s
Lord Street Hotel
Mavericks
Southport Market bar
Bistrot Pierre
The Vincent Hotel
The training was delivered by Six Till Six, the UK’s leading leisure, hospitality and night time economy consultancy.
Southport Pubwatch is a collective of pubs, bars, and night-time economy venues focused on maintaining a safer environment for both customers and staff of licensed premises within Southport town centre.
For more information on Southport Pubwatch, visit www.southportbid.com/pubwatch
The Southport Ask For Angela site with support information can be found at www.southportbid.com/askforangela
For more info on the national Ask For Angela campaign, visit https://askforangela.co.uk/
If you would like more information about future Ask For Angela courses, please email: luke@southportbid.com
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
