New findings have shown that almost half of British women have refrained from phoning a friend or helpline while walking home alone at night, even when they felt in danger. The reasons given included not wanting to ‘disturb loved ones’, ’cause unnecessary worry’ or face ‘being judged’.
One fifth of UK adults have held back from contacting someone for a chat while on their way home. Of these, 31% are Gen Zers, aged between 18-24. This study was carried out by global ticket marketplace viagogo, which is teaming up with Uber and Strut Safe to ensure gig-goers get home safely and challenge the stigma around asking for help.
(Image: viagogo/Strut Safe/Uber)
A third of Brits (31%) plan to attend live events this year but the journey home afterwards is a major obstacle for music fans with 27% of women stating they would go to more gigs alone if they felt safer travelling at night.
The main worries among respondents include using public transport alone at night (28%), waiting alone at transport stops (27%) and having no phone signal (22%).
As a result a newly launched #SAVETHENUMBER campaign promotes the use of Strut Safe’s support hotline where volunteers will stay on the line with you until you safely arrive home. This means instead of calling a friend after a late-night event, such as a festival or concert, you can reach out to one of the volunteers.
Strut Safe is a non-profit volunteer-run support line and has reported a 28% increase in calls over the past year. Most of these come in after 11pm on weekends, a crucial travel time for gig-goers.
Twenty-six year old Grace, a volunteer with the non-profit organisation for the past two years, emphasises the importance of having a support system when traveling alone at night.
As a young woman, she said she understands the value of having someone to rely on during these situations. Grace stated: “Too often, people dismiss their desire for a little support as an ‘overreaction’. Sadly, it’s a mindset we’ve been conditioned to accept.
“The truth is, if that’s how you’re feeling, it’s valid and completely understandable in today’s world.”
Sharing her personal experience with the support line, she said: “it made me feel so much better knowing that there was a voice on the end of the phone and talking about random things was comforting.”
(Image: viagogo/Strut Safe/Uber)
There are no set topics for discussion, and callers are free to talk about anything they feel comfortable with; the conversation is entirely dependent on the caller’s preferences.
Matt Drew, business development lead at viagogo, commented: “At viagogo, our mission is to help more fans access live events. That’s why we’re going beyond the event itself partnering with leading support line Strut Safe and Uber to help address some of the barriers fans experience so they can enjoy a great night out from start to finish.”
The trend of dialling a support line for safety is on the rise, with nearly half (47%) of those surveyed saying they’d use Strut Safe’s hotline during future nights out. The service operates from 7pm to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7pm to 1am on Sundays.
Strut Safe’s strategy director, Michelle Kelly, commented: “The increase in calls to Strut Safe reflects ongoing safety concerns around travelling alone at night, especially among people of marginalised genders. Raising awareness of the resources available is crucial to help all people feel empowered to participate fully in public life.
“We welcome the news of more people embracing solo travel and independent experiences while recognising the complex ways in which experiences of marginalisation can pose barriers to these activities.”
In a bid to boost safety, viagogo and Uber are joining forces with the #SAVETHENUMBER initiative, offering a £10 discount code (‘ruGtzslERHA’) for UK rides to or from gigs.
This limited-time offer kicks off at 8pm on Friday 4 April, valid between 8pm and 6am, and can be used once per user.
Uber’s co-chair of women, Mollie Moric, chimed in: “We’re proud to partner with Strut Safe and viagogo to help music fans get home safely and with peace of mind.”