Sometimes when out and about in public you can find yourself in a difficult situation that may require the help of a stranger. Whether it be a first date gone wrong, issues with your partner or family, or even if something just feels off, it's helpful to know that with a discrete word you can alert those around you to what is happening.
In a number of bars, shops and supermarkets there are several different codewords you can use to tell people what is happening or that you are in trouble quietly if you don't want to cause too much of a fuss. Some of these schemes are funded by the government and police forces but many people might not know about them.
Last year a doorman described just how often he is being asked for one of these codewords, you can read that here.
Read more: I asked for Henry at a Morrisons café and was treated with pure kindness
Whether it be helping to get you out of the situation, or providing you with support, these phrases can go a long way to help in stressful situations. We have compiled a list of some of the most common code words and what they mean:
Ask for Angela
The ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign encourages people who feel unsafe to use the codeword, "Angela" to indicate to staff that they need help with their situation.‘ Ask for Angela’ was originally developed by Lincolnshire County Council and adopted by the Metropolitan Police in 2016 as a localised initiative by its police licensing officers.
This code-phrase 'Angela' will indicate to staff that someone requires help with their situation and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. This might be through reuniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police.
Now, it is used in many venues - primarily nighttime hospitality locations - as a way to indicate to people how to access help if they need it. Posters are often placed in the toilets or around the venue where people can see them.
Ask for ANI
In January 2021, the UK government launched an 'Ask for ANI' scheme which allows victims of domestic abuse to discretely signal that they need help and to access support. By asking for ANI, a trained pharmacy worker is meant to offer a private space where they can understand if the victim needs to speak to the police or would like help to access support services such as a national or local domestic abuse helplines.
The scheme was initially available through the 2,300 Boots stores across the UK as well as 255 independent pharmacies. Over half of UK pharmacies are now enrolled in the scheme.
Ask for an 'Angel' shot
People asking for an Angel shot at bars to signal for help recently went viral on TikTok, so much so that the hashtag #angelshot has more than 143m views on the app. While the trend is undoubtedly more of a thing in America at the moment, it might be worth knowing just in case staff are aware of it too.
According to the I newspaper, there are several ways to order the shot. The first way to order the shot is straight, which means that a guest needs an escort to their car. An angel shot on the rocks or on ice indicates that they need help calling a taxi. And the third order, with lime lets the staff know that they should call the police.
Ask for a 'package for Sandy'
The ‘package for Sandy’ initiative was launched last year by Morrisons community champion Emma Parkinson in response to period poverty at her local store in Bolton. Following a trial, the initiative is now available in 497 stores, with the supermarket distributing a further 125,000 sanitary products to local charities in a bid to 'end period poverty'.
Each package for Sandy includes two single sanitary towels, which is enough to get you through your food shop and home without a major disaster. One person tried out the scheme to see whether it worked and if staff were aware of it, you can read about that here.
Ask for Henry
As well as their Sandy scheme, earlier this year Morrisons also ran a 'ask for Henry' scheme to offer anyone struggling with the cost of living crisis a hot meal. The scheme sadly ended at the end of November but is worth knowing just in case the supermarket decides to bring it back.
The supermarket giant launched the 'ask for Henry' campaign in partnership with Heinz beans across all 397 Morrisons cafés, with over 160,000 meals being made available to the public. The idea was that anyone who ‘asked for Henry’ at a Morrisons café during this time (and whilst stocks lasted) would receive a hot, hearty jacket potato topped with Heinz beans for free, no questions asked.
Read next:
- Beautiful house with immaculate interiors and enchanting garden could be your stunning home by the sea
- The coastal farmhouse renovation with sweeping views for sale for £995k
- The family-run Welsh bakery that overcame a devastating fire and now makes one of M&S' most delicious Christmas treats
- People call for Luke Evans to play Tom Jones in biopic after uncanny performance
- The Grand Designs award-winning straw house with one of the UK's top Airbnb hosts
