Purple Flag Waterford partnering with WIT Students Union, An Garda Siochana and working with local venues launched an ‘Ask For Angela’ campaign – a simple code-word campaign for people feeling unsafe while on a night out.   The campaign welcomed and supported by local venue owners and managers as it is seen as a positive step in raising the perception of safety in Waterford.

The Ask for Angela campaign has got global attention since introduced by Hayley Child in Lincolnshire, England in 2016.

Eric O’Brien, Chair of the Purple Flag Working Group outlined that the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign is in place to give assurance that where required, informed assistance is available.   He commends the support shown by venues who display campaign posters encouraging those in a situation where they feel vulnerable to approach staff and ask for ‘Angela’ – this code word will alert staff that help is needed to get out of a situation discreetly.

At the launch, Michael Murphy, President of WIT Students Union says that “the ‘Ask For Angela’ campaign has the potential to make Waterford a safer place by encouraging people to discreetly ask for help by going to venue staff and ‘Ask for Angela’ – a phrase aimed at alerting staff so they can help defuse a situation.

It is encouraging to see so many local businesses engaging with the campaign, all with a common objective to protect people who find themselves in vulnerable or distressing situations”.