South East Technological University (SETU) partnered with Carlow County Council, An Garda Síochána, the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), and Carlow College, St Patrick’s, to launch the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign.
Local representatives from these organisations came together at SETU’s campus in Carlow to launch the campaign for the locality. It is imperative that the campaign has community-wide support and implementation. As a university town, Carlow County Council and SETU aim to work together to create a place in which students feel safe to live, visit, learn, and socialise.
Goals
The ‘Ask for Angela’ aims to support anyone on the premises of a bar or restaurant who is experiencing inappropriate behaviour from another patron. You can go up to a member of staff and ask for ‘Angela’. The code word lets staff know a person is feeling uncomfortable and need a way to get out of the situation. The staff member will discreetly help the person to find the best way to deal with the situation.
Participating premises will have ‘Ask for Angela’ posters displayed, and management and staff will be briefed on how to help safeguard patrons. Local businesses will work alongside security staff, create protocols for dealing with perpetrators, brief staff thoroughly on best practice, and report any harassment incidents.
Opening the launch event in Carlow, David Denieffe, Vice President for Student Experience at SETU, said, “SETU is delighted to support this key initiative. Through this important collaboration with local partners in An Garda Síochána, Carlow County Council, the Vintners Federation, and Carlow College, we can ensure that our students and our community are safer. "
Superintendent Anthony Farrell of An Garda Síochána, said, “Young people are a focal point in our approach to enhancing people safety, especially as part of the night time economy. Working together, this ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign will strengthen this process.”
A safe Initiative
Speaking about the importance of the initiative, Tom O’Neill, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow, commented, “This excellent initiative will align with the Purple Flag programme that is currently being worked on, and again these initiatives are what we do best in Carlow; collaboration and working together to make our town a safer place to visit and enjoy”.
“The Ask for Angela campaign supports our work at SETU to help members of our university community feel safe and to assist us in the implementation of the SETU Action Plan for Tackling Sexual Violence and Harassment.” added Roisin Shanahan, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Manager at SETU.
Mark Dunne, Student Union President at SETU, commented, “We are delighted to be a part of the launch of this initiative. I am confident with this initiative now in Carlow that we will see safer nightlife for students and the wider community. As Carlow is such a student oriented town, this will benefit students in ensuring a safer nightlife for them and peace of mind when out socialising. On behalf of SETUSU I would like to thank everyone who played a part in making this possible in Carlow”.
Sergeant Conor Egan of Carlow Community Policing Unit, who gave a presentation as to how the “Ask for Angela” initiative works on a practical basis, said, “ The introduction of this initiative in Carlow Town aligns with An Garda Siochana’s mission of ‘Keeping People Safe’.” He praised the collaborative approach taken locally in bringing this initiative to fruition, stating, “it will enhance the feeling of safety for all those choosing to socialise in Carlow.”