Fifty-three venues across Liverpool are now certified 'safe spaces' as part of new efforts to tackle hate crime in the city.
The 'You're Safe Here' mark, developed by LCR Pride Foundation in response to a spate of hate crimes against the LGBT+ community, ensures venue staff will know how to react if a person is the victim of a crime or is vulnerable and needs support.
The first wave of accredited venues will display You're Safe Here signage in their windows after receiving special training from LCR Pride Foundation in collaboration with Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, Merseyside Police, Stop Hate UK, Liverpool Nightlife CIC and other city partners.
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A range of bars, cafes and hotels in Liverpool are now well-equipped with knowledge of how to respond to an extensive range of scenarios, including recognising hate crimes and incidents relating to gender and sexuality, race, disability and more, supporting victims and how to report hate crimes, as well as awareness of sexual violence, unsafe drinking, grooming and student safety.
The first list of qualified venues includes 92 Degrees Coffee on Hardman Street, Coyote Ugly on Bold Street and many more further afield.
Rebecca Haycox, general manager at Liverpool Gin Distillery on Castle Street - one of the newly-trained venues - said: "The safety of the people who visit our venues is so important to our staff, especially in light of recent events.
“The You're Safe Here training has been so incredibly useful and has empowered our team to know what to do when someone needs help, which will be vital as we come into the busy festive season. Liverpool is a friendly, welcoming city and we are proud that through this training our team is able to make it a safer place too."
Organisers reassured the You're Safe Here scheme will be an ongoing campaign to continue efforts to make Liverpool a safer city for everybody.
Speaking of the first wave of training sessions, LCR Pride Foundation chief executive officer and co-founder Andi Herring said: “The initial response to the training scheme has been fantastic and clearly reflects the commitment of venues across the city region to providing safe spaces for all.
“While this scheme was launched following a series of hate crimes against the LGBT+ community in the city, it is intended to improve safety for anyone living in or visiting the city. Feedback from participants has so far been excellent and has created a foundation for ongoing partnership working.
“The scheme does not end with the delivery of one training session. We aim to maintain these relationships to continually inform our training and respond to the changing needs and concerns of venues, their staff and patrons, to make our city a safer place for everyone.”
Chief constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy said: “There is no place for hate in our city and this year we have made real progression as highlighted in a recent survey led by Confused.com ( Feb 2021 ), where Liverpool was voted the safest city in the UK. However, we recognise there is still more work to be done to ensure every member of our community feels safe and secure.
“We talk a lot about partnership working and this initiative led by LCR Pride Foundation is a great example of how our force is working with communities to make Merseyside a safer place for all those that live, work or visit the city centre
“It has been so encouraging to see the large range of venues that have voluntarily signed up to the scheme so far, it really demonstrates the shared enthusiasm for making sure visitors safely enjoy the vibrant nightlife that the city centre has to offer.
“These training sessions give us the chance to provide licensees with information such as what constitutes a hate crime; the importance of reporting it, and the best way to report it. This will ensure that the victim will get the support they need but also helps to reinforce the importance of everyone’s role in helping to reduce hate crime going forwards.”
The initial phase of the You're Safe Here scheme has been funded by the Police Commissioner, creating 1,000 training places for night-time economy staff ahead of the festive period.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside Emily Spurrell said: “The overwhelming response to the You’re Safe Here scheme shows just how strong the shared determination is across our city to make it as safe as possible.
“Liverpool is known for being one of the friendliest, most welcoming cities in the country and this initiative is yet another example of how local people will go out of their way to help others.
“The training has only just got underway, but the enthusiasm and engagement has already been fantastic. Our aim is to provide training for up to 1,000 staff between now and Christmas. By doing so, we can ensure anyone who feels worried, vulnerable or scared on a night out knows there are safe spaces and trained staff on hand to offer effective support right across our city.”
Cultural venues are also invited to take part in the You're Safe Here training, to help even more businesses support their staff and customers.
LCR Pride Foundation is also working to further extend the scheme across the whole of the Liverpool city region and to cities across the UK.
Full list of You're Safe Here locations:
- 92 Degrees Coffee, Hardman Street
- &Company, Mann Island
- Avenue HQ, Mann Island
- BaaBar, Fleet Street
- Boston Pool Loft, Concert Square
- Breakout Liverpool, Sir Thomas Street
- Brooklyn Mixer, Seel Street
- Coyote Ugly, Bold Street
- Dirty O'Sheas, Seel Street
- Einstein, Concert Square
- Electrik, Wood Street
- Fitzgerald's Irish Bar, Slater Street
- Fly in the Loaf, Hardman Street
- Fredrick's, Hope Street
- Fusion, Fleet Street
- Grapes, Mathew Street
- Heaven, Victoria Street
- Hotel Anfield, Anfield Road
- ICON, Stanley Street
- Irish House, Ranelagh Street
- La'Go, Colquitt Street
- Lanigans, Raneglagh Street
- Legends Bar, Mathew Street
- Level, Fleet Street
- Liverpool Gin Distillery, Castle Street
- McCooleys, Concert Square
- McCooleys, Mathew Street
- Modo, Concert Square
- Moloko, Old Peters Lane
- Navy Bar, Stanley Street
- Nelly Foleys, Great Charlotte Street
- North Shore Troubadour, Carlton Street
- Old Bank, James Street
- Open Eye Gallery, Mann Island
- Peacock, Seel Street
- Revolver, Temple Court
- Rocking Horse, Great Charlotte Street
- Rubber Soul, Mathew Street
- Ruby Blues, Great Charotte Street
- Sgt Peppers, Mathew Street
- Smokie Mo's, Ranelagh Street
- Social, Stanley Street
- Soho, Concert Square
- Taggy's Bar & Beer Garden, Anfield Road
- The Bridewell, Campbell Square
- The Celtic Corner, Ranelagh Street
- The Egg Cafe, Newington
- The Hatch, Stanley Street
- The Lisbon, Victoria Street
- The Masquerade, Cumberland Street
- The Poste House, Cumberland Street
- Yankees Bar, Wood Street
- Zanzibar, Seel Street
Training sessions are still available and will be taking place over the next 12 months.
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