Torbay Council and SWISCo leaders have added their signatures to the Safety of Women at Night (SWAN) charter, a pledge signed by Bay organisations to keep women safe in their premises.
The signing comes as the world observes White Ribbon Day today, followed by 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence, an international awareness-raising campaign.
We support both initiatives, which seek to prevent violence against women and girls. We were the first organisation in the South West to receive White Ribbon accreditation and actively promote the movement.
We protect our staff – particularly those working in the evenings – through our lone working policy and also provide personal alarms. We also have wellbeing and domestic abuse champions.
More than 120 Torbay businesses have signed the SWAN charter since it was launched last year. Most of these are licensed premises like bars, restaurants and clubs operating in the night-time economy but the charter is open to any business or organisation which promises to safeguard women’s safety.
Some have introduced bystander training for staff, so they can spot when customers are in distress. Workers at 18 licensed premises in Torquay and Paignton have carried out Shout Up! training which has helped them intervene safely when they spot sexual harassment taking place.
Recent signatories to the SWAN charter include Devon Clinic, YMCA South Devon, Torbay Communities, More Positive Me, Phoenix Rising CIC, Working Minds CIC, Rising Moments, Brixham Theatre, Frontline Community Protection, Horses4Life and Tomlinson IT Solutions.
Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council, said: “I’m pleased to support this initiative and provide reassurance to our staff that their safety is our top priority.
“It’s also good to see that so many varied businesses and organisations across Torbay have signed the SWAN charter. Women should feel safe wherever they are, whether it’s day or night. We want our communities to get the most out of living here and they can only do that if they feel confident and secure.”
The council is also encouraging people to get home safely after a night out by using the festive night bus service. The service, which runs on the number 12 route between Torquay and Brixham, operates until 4:30am on selected nights over the Christmas and New Year period. Find out more about the bus service.
The NHS also offers a Safe Space unit on Torquay’s harbourside. It's a quiet space for people on a night out where they can have a break if they’re tired or feel unwell. They can get first aid, bottled water and charge up their phone if they need to.
The Safe Space operates every Saturday from 10pm to 3am. During December it runs on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 4am. It will also be there on New Year’s Eve from 10pm to 4am.
A number of events are taking place across Torbay as part of the 16 Days of Action campaign. These range from library drop-ins, art therapy and creative writing sessions, webinars, a silent march through Torquay, disco bingo, a bus tour and equine therapy.
For the full list of events, visit the Are you OK? website, which also has contacts if you or someone who know is experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence.
We work alongside partners including Devon and Cornwall Police, NHS Devon, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Probation Service, and the other South West Peninsula local councils; as well as the local community and voluntary sector Standing Tall Partnership, to support people who are vulnerable to all forms of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
We commission the Torbay Domestic Abuse Service to provide support and safe places to stay and Intercom Trust to provide the Safer Rainbow Project delivers specialist domestic abuse support to LGBT+ communities.
We also work with Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services to ensure people experiencing sexual violence receive support.
Image shows Torbay Council leader David Thomas and Torbay Council Chief Executive Anne-Marie Bond signing the Safety of Women at Night charter
News archive
- December 2024 (5)
- November 2024 (27)
- October 2024 (21)
- September 2024 (17)
- August 2024 (7)
- July 2024 (24)
- June 2024 (8)
- May 2024 (25)
- April 2024 (19)
- March 2024 (17)
- February 2024 (16)
- January 2024 (14)
- December 2023 (14)
- November 2023 (30)
- October 2023 (21)
- September 2023 (22)
- August 2023 (18)
- July 2023 (17)
- June 2023 (14)
- May 2023 (11)
- April 2023 (9)
- March 2023 (36)
- February 2023 (22)
- January 2023 (26)
- December 2022 (18)
- November 2022 (24)
- October 2022 (18)
- September 2022 (13)
- August 2022 (15)
- July 2022 (22)
- June 2022 (14)
- May 2022 (35)
- April 2022 (23)
- March 2022 (32)
- February 2022 (18)
- January 2022 (14)
- December 2021 (22)
- November 2021 (22)
- October 2021 (25)
- September 2021 (23)
- August 2021 (18)
- July 2021 (26)
- June 2021 (24)
- May 2021 (21)
- April 2021 (21)
- March 2021 (33)
- February 2021 (30)
- January 2021 (27)
- December 2020 (24)
- November 2020 (37)
- October 2020 (29)
- September 2020 (27)
- August 2020 (22)
- July 2020 (37)
- June 2020 (38)
- May 2020 (39)
- April 2020 (36)
- March 2020 (22)
- February 2020 (10)
- January 2020 (18)
- December 2019 (7)
- November 2019 (11)
- October 2019 (15)
- September 2019 (16)
- August 2019 (8)
- July 2019 (9)
- June 2019 (7)
- May 2019 (16)
- April 2019 (11)
- March 2019 (11)
- February 2019 (7)
- January 2019 (11)
- December 2018 (11)
- November 2018 (14)
- October 2018 (14)
- September 2018 (9)
- August 2018 (7)
- July 2018 (19)
- June 2018 (21)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (10)
- March 2018 (35)
- February 2018 (9)
- January 2018 (15)
- December 2017 (9)
- November 2017 (17)
- October 2017 (11)
- September 2017 (6)
- August 2017 (7)
- July 2017 (13)
- June 2017 (22)
- May 2017 (16)
- April 2017 (8)
- March 2017 (9)
- February 2017 (9)
- January 2017 (4)
- December 2016 (10)
- November 2016 (11)
- October 2016 (14)
- September 2016 (9)
- August 2016 (10)
- July 2016 (11)
- June 2016 (4)
- May 2016 (20)
- April 2016 (14)
- March 2016 (18)
- February 2016 (8)
- January 2016 (15)
- December 2015 (13)
- November 2015 (19)
- October 2015 (17)
- September 2015 (8)
- August 2015 (6)
- July 2015 (19)
- June 2015 (11)
- May 2015 (20)
- April 2015 (14)
- March 2015 (15)
- February 2015 (13)
- January 2015 (17)
- December 2014 (17)
- November 2014 (18)
- October 2014 (14)
- September 2014 (17)
- August 2014 (16)
- July 2014 (10)
- June 2014 (8)
- May 2014 (1)
- February 2014 (1)
- January 0001 (1)