A new city-wide anti-sexual harassment training programme is currently being rolled out in Bristol to make the city a safer place at night. Venues and night-time economy workers across the city are being urged to book a space on one of the free sessions running until the end of March.
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Introductory Training Programme has been created by Bristol Nights following a successful bid by Bristol City Council for the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night Fund. The training is being facilitated by Bristol City Centre BID and aims to train night-time economy workers and venues (operating / working 6pm-6am) in dealing with incidences of sexual harassment, with a focus on the safety of women at night.
The training sessions offer a place to discuss and understand what constitutes sexual harassment and how incidents can be managed and reported by night-time venues and individuals working in them. With the opportunity to talk through specific examples and understand signs and behaviours of sexual harassment, participants will take away key learnings that can be implemented in their role or place of work.
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Vicky Lee, head of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “The safety of the city centre at night is a key focus for Bristol City Centre BID and proactive, city-wide initiatives such as this one from Bristol Nights are vital to give night-time venues and workers the information and tools they need to put safety at the forefront of their work.
“We are committed to training as many venues and night-time workers as possible across the rest of the month, and we invite businesses and individuals from across the city to utilise this free training opportunity.
"Participants will become more informed and more confident in their approach to dealing with sexual harassment, and with a unified approach we can continue to make the city a safer and more welcoming place.”
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Each training session is 2.5 hours long with both in-person and online options, and is suitable for venue managers, promoters, venue staff and security teams as well as self-employed night-time economy workers across the city. There is also a low income and freelance night-time workers bursary available to help support individuals in these categories to complete the training.
The sessions are being held at a selection of locations across the city centre area and at different dates and times to maximise the uptake and make it accessible to those that would like to partake. Anyone working in the night-time economy that is interested in registering for a session or finding out more about the training can do so via the Bristol Nights website.
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A key element of the training supports making the city safer at night for women and includes a Women’s Safety Charter that offers step by step guidance that can be implemented by venues. Businesses and individuals that complete the training will be recognised for their participation and their commitment to improving safety at night.
Paul Stoodley, of Bendy Bars Ltd said: "I'm really pleased to have completed the training; I feel like I’ve learnt a lot that can be put into practice. I will now take the practical information and use it to write a policy for our business that previously we’ve never had in place.”
