New Bristol Nights campaign to take stand against sexual harassment

Improving the safety of women at night is a challenge that cannot be achieved without allies throughout the city, says Carly Heath.

Bristol’s nighttime economy advisor is leading the rollout of a new campaign that aims to tackle sexual harassment head-on through a number of initiatives that include specialist training for 1,000 people who work in the nighttime economy.

It comes in the wake of a recent survey conducted by Heath’s team that revealed 100 per cent of women in the city have experienced sexual harassment in some form.

The Bristol Nights project is calling for venues, businesses and individuals to take a stand against this harmful behaviour with a zero-tolerance approach, backed up by a high-profile campaign that will include a light parade and billboard posters, as well as expert training.

£282,000 of dedicated government funding will be spent on rolling out the programme and paying for staff to receive training to help them deal with incidents of sexual harassment.

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It’s an issue that will be at the heart of an event, hosted by Bristol24/7 in collaboration with Bristol Nights, that aims to celebrate women in the nighttime economy and send a clear message that it is a space where everyone should be able to feel safe.

Heath says: “Improving the safety of women at night is vital and a challenge which cannot be achieved without allies throughout the city.

“Following a two-month research phase involving a range of Bristol audiences, this project will seek to improve public understanding of what constitutes harassment and how often it happens.

“We know that many crimes against women at night go unreported but are widely witnessed. This campaign invites bystanders to call out bad behaviour, while empowering those working in the nighttime economy to recognise and execute a zero-tolerance response to harassment in their venues and workplaces.

“Our nightlife communities care about the safety and wellbeing of people enjoying our nightlife. This is such an important message. We need to let the people of Bristol know that women deserve to feel welcome in the city after dark and as such, we invite all Bristolians to join our zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment.”

Carly Heath says improving the safety of women at night is vital – photo: Shotaway

Heath added: “Survey responses also demonstrate that the behaviours which the public feel constitutes sexual harassment are also widely debated. This is telling of the complexity of the issue and that a campaign highlighting what constitutes sexual harassment as well as actions they should take when faced with an incident of harassment is so critical.”

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The introductory training for staff has been specially designed in collaboration with those in the nighttime economy and agencies specialising in violence against women and girls. It will be delivered in partnership with Bristol City Centre BID and has been developed by High Streets Task Force expert Joanne Cox Brown.

The aim is to support venue staff to implement a zero-tolerance approach in Bristol, while also promoting the need for anyone witnessing any unwanted behaviour in the city’s night-time economy to immediately call it out to staff. The project also includes a limited bursary for low-income and freelance night-time workers to be able to undertake the training.

A ‘Shine A Light’ parade will take place on March 24 as part of the project. People dressed in and carrying lights will parade through the city centre, culminating in an event at Lloyd’s Amphitheatre, where there will be performances and stories by speakers and artists

Nighttime workers and businesses can sign up to take part in training sessions throughout March via www.bristolnights.co.uk/anti-sexual-harassment.

The next Bristol24/7 Presents event is a hybrid event and will take place on March 31. 

Register now to secure a free ticket to the event at Lost Horizon: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol247-presents-celebrating-women-in-the-nighttime-economy-tickets-274830815367

or

Register to attend the live stream online via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol247-presents-celebrating-women-in-the-nighttime-economy-virtual-tickets-294452042987

Main photo: Paul Box

Read more: Why we must celebrate the women in Bristol’s nighttime economy 

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