Pubs and bars sign up to Commissioner's safety training scheme to protect women from violence

New training is underway to equip pub, bar and transport workers in the city with the skills needed to support and protect women needing help in their venues.

The sessions, designed and delivered by the specialist charity Equation, are funded by Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry through the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) Fund.

They are part of a whole package of measures being employed in Nottingham to reduce women’s vulnerability on a night out. These include extra night patrols on the city’s tram and transport network and a ‘Safe Space’ facility with trained medical professionals for revellers needing urgent assistance or safety advice.

Commissioner Henry secured a grant of almost £250,000 in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and Nottingham City Council.

The new training sessions have been developed to help night-time economy workers recognise and appropriately respond to women experiencing harassment and abuse.

They explore the harassment and risks of violence women are exposed to and provide employees with an overview of how best to respond in a range of scenarios.

Sessions are also being backed by the distribution of resource packs to raise awareness of sexual violence, harassment and abuse among the wider public and support the project’s aims through posters and support service information cards.

Commissioner Henry said: “Nottingham is a safe city but we want to make it even safer by giving these professionals the training and skills they need to safely intervene and prevent crime.

“Like all of the interventions we are funding through SWaN, we aim to make a meaningful difference to women’s lives and give them a better experience of our vibrant city.

"I am proud of the partnerships we have already built with Nottingham’s licensed venues. Businesses have responded really positively to this scheme and have offered their full commitment to making women and girls safer.”

Transport workers are accessing the training via an e-learning platform which has been specially developed and will be available for the benefit of other employees once the project comes to an end.

Anthea Tainton, Equation’s head of service, said: “Equation are delighted to be a part of the SWaN initiative. Training night-time economy workers to be able to effectively recognise and respond to harassment, violence and abuse is an important element of supporting women to feel safer. The E-Learning element of the training is also very exciting as we want to ensure there is sustainability of the work once the funding ends. Everyone should have a right to feel safe when they walk around their communities and cities.”

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