Bar staff offered training to make venues safer

Bar staff in Guernsey are being offered free training in how to make venues feel safer.

Organised by night time economy charity SafetyNet Guernsey venues that have 75% of their staff trained can qualify as official Safe Places by training provider The Egalitarian.

The half-day course includes modules on understanding, identifying, and responding to spiking, sexual violence and other unacceptable behaviours.

Poppy Murray, chairwoman of SafetyNet, said: "Many islanders have expressed a desire to feel safer on nights out, and we hope this training will help boost public confidence in certified venues."

Up to 300 bar staff are being offered the training for free, thanks to a grant from Guernsey's Social Investment Fund (SIF).

"We are beyond grateful to SIF for supporting this project, which is a landmark moment for night-time economy safety in Guernsey," said Miss Murray.

"The Egalitarian has achieved outstanding results with venues across the UK, significantly improving safety for both customers and staff.

"I am confident they can deliver the same positive outcomes for Guernsey."

Research by The Egalitarian has shown 97% of customers would feel safer in venues where they know staff had been trained, with 91% saying they would stay longer in those venues.

Miss Murray said SafetyNet would support and promote all certified venues and hoped to see a boost for night-time economy businesses.

"In the coming weeks, we will be reaching out directly to venues and encouraging as many staff members as possible to sign up," she said.

She added: "Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and we are excited to share that all Randalls' venues and Pingquay have already signed up."

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