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AIF announces two new partners as part of its Safer Spaces campaign
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 30 June 2023
The UK’s Association Of Independent Festivals has announced new partnerships with two charities – Galop and Stamp Out Spiking – which seek to further enhance the trade organisation’s Safer Spaces campaign.
That initiative is based around the Safer Spaces Charter, which has been signed by more than 100 festivals and which, among other things, states that “all allegations of sexual harassment, assault and violence will be taken seriously, acted upon promptly and investigated at AIF member festivals”.
The charter itself, as well as accompanying resources from AIF, are informed by a number of partner organisations, including Rape Crisis England And Wales, Good Night Out, Safe Gigs For Women, Girls Against, UN Women and – with these new partnerships now in place – both Galop and Stamp Out Spiking.
Galop works with LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence, specialising in supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and other forms of interpersonal abuse.
Stamp Out Spiking was founded by a team with professional experience in alcohol and drug awareness workshops and seeks to highlight the dangers of spiking, and offer effective and practical solutions to keep people safe in pubs, clubs, house parties, festivals and beyond.
Confirming the new partners, AIF’s Membership & Operations Coordinator, Phoebe Rodwell-Carson, says: “I am so glad we have partnered with both Galop and Stamp Out Spiking for our Safer Spaces campaign. It’s important for AIF to work towards creating safer and more inclusive spaces for everyone, and to work with those who provide specialised support”.
On the wider campaign, she adds: “It’s great to have so many festivals signed up to the campaign. We hope to build on this with as many festival organisers as possible, supporting them in upholding their duty of care towards music fans and festival staff, whilst ensuring we remain inclusive and open to all”.
Galop Deputy CEO Amy Roch says: “We’re so pleased to see the AIF Safer Spaces Charter actively working towards an inclusive and safe environment for LGBT+ festival-goers. By including LGBT+ survivors in the AIF Charter, AIF is sending a powerful message that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected, and that LGBT+ specialised support is available to those who need it. We are proud to have worked with AIF to raise awareness of LGBT+ experiences of sexual violence and to promote inclusive safety in their festivals across the country”.
Stamp Out Spiking CEO Dawn Dines adds: “We’re delighted to join forces on our mission to stamp out spiking with the Association Of Independent Festivals. Working together will make such a difference in safeguarding men and women at festivals across the UK. Highlighting how these cowardly crimes are taking place, sharing key information on the typical signs and symptoms, will make it so much more difficult for perpetrators and ultimately safeguard festival goers”.
