Ask for Angela is more than using a key phrase to ask for help. It shows that unwanted attention and behaviour will not be tolerated in the establishment. It is also a sign that the staff are aware of what to do in situations where people can feel vulnerable and in need of help, whether this is an individual on a date or someone who has become separated from their friends and is in an unknown town. These scenarios don’t exclusively happen to women and girls so we want everyone to know that they can ask for help from staff with minimal fuss or long explanations and they will be supported, however they choose to ask. There are still situations where women are in unsafe situations and they need to ask for help discreetly, and the phrase ‘Ask for Angela’ will still do that even if men are aware of it.
If you have a member of staff called Angela working in your venue it is always best to assume that the individual is asking for help in the first instance and see if they need any assistance. You can add this to your policy and processes.
We would recommend training your staff on Ask for Angela so that they can easily identify potentially vulnerable individuals and know the best way to support them. We offer two free workbooks, one for managers that helps them put a process in place relevant to the business, and one for staff that supports them on what to do if someone asks for help. If you want to take the training further we offer several enhanced training options. Training your staff will also reassure customers that help will be available if they need it.
As a minimum, we would recommend that you use the free workbooks that are available on our website to train your managers and staff. You must know what to do in a situation if a potentially vulnerable individual asks for help, whether that is by using a code word or raising concerns directly. You can then promote that you are an Ask for Angela venue using the poster templates that can be downloaded , or using pin badges, lanyards, window stickers, etc, that can be purchased online.
Ask for Angela initially started in bars and clubs, however since then more and more businesses have seen the value in becoming involved in the initiative. Hotels, chemists, taxi companies, theatres, cinemas, and shops have completed the training.
Yes, anyone can find themselves in a potentially vulnerable situation so Ask for Angela is available for anyone to use. There is no need to create different names for different styles of venues or types of customers. If someone is asking for Angela it is a sign that they need assistance, no matter their gender, the reason for the visit, sexual orientation, etc. The initiative is designed to be able to ask for help in a few words, said discreetly rather than having to have a lengthy conversation as to what is happening there and then. It will also reassure the customers that if they need support it will be available to them.
