As the festive season begins and we start to go out on Christmas parties and socialise more after dark, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is reminding women that we all have a Guardian Angel in Angela.
Safeguarding week 2023 (20th – 24th November) is all about how you can prioritise the welfare and wellbeing of yourself and others.
The Council’s Community Safety Team have been working with all licenced premises across Rhondda Cynon Taf over the last few years to raise awareness and train employees on how to assist those who may find themselves in vulnerable situations and need to ‘Ask for Angela’.
This time of year is often busier and our pubs are filled with people who may not normally head into town and might feel vulnerable.
“Ask for Angela” is a campaign that can be used at anytime of the year by an individual in bars and other venues to keep them safe from harassment by using a codeword to identify when they are in danger or are in an uncomfortable situation.
The original “Ask for Angela” campaign was developed by Lincolnshire County Council in 2016. The aim of the Campaign was to create a culture change in relation to sexual violence and abuse and enable those who feel vulnerable in pubs and clubs to discreetly approach staff and request assistance.
If you are on a night out with friends or even a date that isn’t going as you thought and you feel you could be in danger, you just need to ‘Ask for Angela’ and you will be offered assistance, without too much fuss - This might be through reuniting you with a trusted friend, seeing you to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police.
Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, said:
“This initiative has been hugely successful nationally and I’m glad to see that we are once again highlighting the scheme here in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“I know that the Community Safety Team will be working with all our licenced premises to ensure that they have the skills they need to help when these situations may arise. Everyone has the right to feel safe in our communities and ‘Ask for Angela’ helps women to know that they have a trusted friend in Angela.”
For more information visit
https://www.met.police.uk/AskforAngela
Posted on 16/11/2023