Shout-Up!, an initiative to make bars, pubs, clubs and licensed venues sexual harassment-free has now trained 210 staff across 18 venues in Torquay and Paignton.
The program, funded by Torbay Council as part of its Safer Streets initiative, focuses on working with licensed premises to improve safety in the venue by training staff to understand how to intervene safely in incidents of sexual harassment. Research shows that 90% of people would feel safer or happier in a bar, pub, or club whose staff had received the Shout-Up! training.
The latest venues to achieve this certification are all part of South Devon’s East Street Pub Group. The group has certified all its venues in the Torquay and Paignton area, training 62 staff members.
The Harbour Inn, Queen Victoria, and The Hyde Dendy are the latest to receive certification after VIVA was awarded the accolade earlier this year.
“We’re proud to be a Shout-Up! venue,” said Courtney Ross, manager at The Harbour Inn. “We believe there should be a safe space for all, free from uncomfortable conversations, situations, and discrimination.”
To become a certified Shout-Up! venue the premises must have all staff complete Bystander Intervention Training delivered by experts from Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services, write and share sexual harassment policies protecting staff and patrons and have a publicly available procedure for dealing with incidents of sexual harassment. In addition, they are required to commit to making their venue a sexual harassment-free zone, display visible signage explaining their participation in the scheme and what patrons can expect to happen in the event of sexual harassment and commit to undertake six-monthly reviews on policies, procedures and training to retain certification.
Councillor Hayley Tranter, Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities, said: “This certification reflects the group’s commitment to creating safe, inclusive environments for patrons, ensuring everyone can enjoy their time without fear of harassment. It’s great to see the team at East Street Pub Group embracing this initiative.”
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved with the Torbay Shout-Up! program in such a short timeframe – over 200 staff members trained in just six months shows the commitment of our licence holders to make nights out better and safer. I congratulate everyone who has participated and achieved their certification.”
The Shout-Up! program will continue in Torbay for the rest of 2024, and interested venues are invited to apply by visiting www.shoutup.org/torbay.
