A new scheme is set to focus on customer safety within the night time economy in Southport town centre.

Ask for Angela is a national scheme that helps anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out to get the support they need.

Training sessions will educate staff on vulnerability, bystander intervention, and Ask For Angela implementation.

Topics covered will include spiking prevention, mental health awareness, sexual harassment, and how to spot situations when customers are at risk.

During these sessions, each person will be given a short workbook to complete, after which, they will be officially trained to on Ask for Angela.

Venues will also receive materials to advertise their involvement in the scheme, as well as materials which customers can use to access links to safety resources.

The first two training sessions (which last approximately two hours) will take place at The Bold Hotel on Tuesday 29 October, and The Southport Coaster on Tuesday November 5.

A further session will take place at The Bold Hotel on Wednesday 13 October and more will be scheduled going forward.

The training is available for all staff of licensed premises (pubs, bars, restaurants, leisure venues etc) within the Southport BID area.

Please contact Luke luke@southportbid.com if you are interested in attending.

The Ask For Angela initiative is supported by the Southport Pubwatch group, who work on collective projects that aim to maintain a safer environment for both customers and staff of licensed premises.

The project is funded by Merseyside Police and Southport BID.  Six Till Six will deliver the training.